[Cryotherapy in the treatment of tracheobronchial obstructions of tumor origin].

The effects of cold on tissues result in necrosis through crystallisation and thrombosis. These properties, utilized for many years in certain fields of medicine, can now be applied to bronchial tumours, using semi-rigid or flexible cryodes introduced into bronchoscopes. In our experience the results, evaluated by clinical, radiological, endoscopic or even histological improvement, were good in 7 out of 8 cases of benign tumours and in 16 out of 30 cases of malignant tumours. Complications were minimal. This relatively cheap and very simple method constitutes a good alternative to laser in the same pathologies.