What technique involves the application of extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissue?

Cryosurgery is the technique that utilizes extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissue. This method involves applying liquid nitrogen or other freezing agents directly to the tissue, which causes cellular destruction through freezing. The process results in the formation of ice crystals within the cells, leading to cell rupture and ultimately the death of the targeted abnormal tissue.

This technique is often used in dermatology to treat conditions such as warts, precancerous lesions, and some skin cancers. The choice of cryosurgery is beneficial because it is minimally invasive, can often be performed in an outpatient setting, and tends to have a faster recovery time compared to more invasive surgical procedures.

Reconstruction typically refers to surgical procedures aimed at restoring appearance and function after trauma or removal of tissue, rather than destruction of tissue. Suture is a technique used to close wounds or surgical incisions and does not involve any destruction of tissue. Chemosurgery involves the application of chemical agents to destroy abnormal tissue, which is a different mechanism from the use of extreme cold in cryosurgery.