Liquid Nitrogen in Bone Tumor Treatment

Since these tumors are not full cancers, giving the patient systemic chemotherapy, which has severe side effects, is generally unnecessary. However, mechanically carving the bone and leaving it causes the tumor to recur (relapse) with a 50% probability. Liquid nitrogen poured only on that part of the bone creates a very strong mechanical cellular shock, freezing and exploding all the cells, and dropping the probability of the tumor coming back to 5%.

The bone tissue on which liquid nitrogen is poured loses some of its vitality (and flexibility) and becomes fragile. After the freezing process is finished, surgeons make the bone as strong as before by filling this emptied giant bone cavity with a medical filler called "Bone Cement (PMMA)" or with bone grafts (patches).