Science Q 9 and 10
Argon is the noble gas used for treatment of cancer. It is used in two techniques: argon plasma coagulation and cryosurgery.
Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a form of electrosurgery used to treat tumors of the lung and esophagus. APC is administered through an endoscopic tube. During APC, a jet of ionized argon gas is passed through a probe. Once the argon gas is sparked, or electrified, it turns into plasma. This plasma is sprayed toward the tumor, never touching the tumor itself. Since the plasma doesn’t contact the tumor directly, there is less bleeding of the tumor and surrounding tissue.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery (also called cryotherapy) is a technique for freezing and killing abnormal cells and uses extreme cold produced by argon gas to destroy abnormal tissue. Cryosurgery is used to treat some kinds of cancer and some precancerous or noncancerous conditions. It is used for external tumors, such as those on the skin and can be used inside the body as well. For external tumors, argon gas is applied directly to the cancer cells with a cotton swab or spraying device.
Cryosurgery is an alternative to surgery for liver cancer that has not spread, for cancer that has spread to the liver from another site, for prostate cancer confined to the prostate gland, for a precancerous condition of the cervix, and for cancerous and noncancerous tumors of the bone. Cryosurgery is also used to treat tumors inside the body (internal tumors and tumors in the bone). For internal tumors, argon gas is circulated through a hollow instrument called a cryoprobe, which is placed in contact with the tumor. The doctor uses ultrasound or MRI to guide the cryoprobe and monitor the freezing of the cells, thus limiting damage to nearby healthy tissue. A ball of ice crystals forms around the probe, freezing nearby cells. After cryosurgery, the frozen tissue thaws and is either naturally absorbed by the body (for internal tumors), or it dissolves and forms a scab (for external tumors).
Cryosurgery is also used to treat some types of low-grade cancerous and noncancerous tumors of the bone. It may reduce the risk of joint damage when compared with more extensive surgery, and help lessen the need for amputation. The treatment is also used to treat AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma when the skin lesions are small and localized.
Cryosurgery offers advantages over other methods of cancer treatment. It is less invasive than surgery, involving only a small incision or insertion of the cryoprobe through the skin. Consequently, pain, bleeding, and other complications of surgery are minimized. The treatment can be safely repeated and may be used along with standard treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation. Cryosurgery may offer an option for treating cancers that are considered inoperable or that do not respond to standard treatments. Furthermore, it can be used for patients who are not good candidates for conventional surgery because of their age or other medical conditions.
Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a form of electrosurgery used to treat tumors of the lung and esophagus. APC is administered through an endoscopic tube. During APC, a jet of ionized argon gas is passed through a probe. Once the argon gas is sparked, or electrified, it turns into plasma. This plasma is sprayed toward the tumor, never touching the tumor itself. Since the plasma doesn’t contact the tumor directly, there is less bleeding of the tumor and surrounding tissue.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery (also called cryotherapy) is a technique for freezing and killing abnormal cells and uses extreme cold produced by argon gas to destroy abnormal tissue. Cryosurgery is used to treat some kinds of cancer and some precancerous or noncancerous conditions. It is used for external tumors, such as those on the skin and can be used inside the body as well. For external tumors, argon gas is applied directly to the cancer cells with a cotton swab or spraying device.
Cryosurgery is an alternative to surgery for liver cancer that has not spread, for cancer that has spread to the liver from another site, for prostate cancer confined to the prostate gland, for a precancerous condition of the cervix, and for cancerous and noncancerous tumors of the bone. Cryosurgery is also used to treat tumors inside the body (internal tumors and tumors in the bone). For internal tumors, argon gas is circulated through a hollow instrument called a cryoprobe, which is placed in contact with the tumor. The doctor uses ultrasound or MRI to guide the cryoprobe and monitor the freezing of the cells, thus limiting damage to nearby healthy tissue. A ball of ice crystals forms around the probe, freezing nearby cells. After cryosurgery, the frozen tissue thaws and is either naturally absorbed by the body (for internal tumors), or it dissolves and forms a scab (for external tumors).
Cryosurgery is also used to treat some types of low-grade cancerous and noncancerous tumors of the bone. It may reduce the risk of joint damage when compared with more extensive surgery, and help lessen the need for amputation. The treatment is also used to treat AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma when the skin lesions are small and localized.
Cryosurgery offers advantages over other methods of cancer treatment. It is less invasive than surgery, involving only a small incision or insertion of the cryoprobe through the skin. Consequently, pain, bleeding, and other complications of surgery are minimized. The treatment can be safely repeated and may be used along with standard treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation. Cryosurgery may offer an option for treating cancers that are considered inoperable or that do not respond to standard treatments. Furthermore, it can be used for patients who are not good candidates for conventional surgery because of their age or other medical conditions.