In medical coding, what term refers to the method of destroying abnormal tissue through extreme cold?

The correct term for the method of destroying abnormal tissue through extreme cold is cryosurgery. This technique utilizes very low temperatures to freeze and eliminate unwanted or diseased cells, typically used in procedures like treating skin lesions, precancerous conditions, and certain cancers. The freezing process causes the targeted cells to die while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Chemosurgery refers to the use of chemical agents to destroy abnormal tissue; suture relates to the method of stitching tissues together; and reconstruction typically involves repairing or reshaping a part of the body rather than destroying tissue. Therefore, cryosurgery is specifically associated with the application of extreme cold for tissue destruction, making it the appropriate term in this context.