Effectiveness of cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen for the treatment of cutaneous warts at Dermatology Clinic, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital

Abstract

Background: Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is a cutaneous warts treatment technique that seldom results in deep damage and physicians both domestically and abroad continue to favor the application of liquid nitrogen. It is frequently used in the dermatology clinic at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, however the outcomes of cutaneous wart treatments using this technique are not systematically documented. The goal of the study is to evaluate treatment outcomes of the cutaneous warts with liquid nitrogen and determine factors related to the treatment results. Materials and Method: Prospective cohort study, the patients with cutaneous warts were treated with liquid nitrogen at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital from 7/2019 to 7/2020. Results: 68 pateints were participated in the study. The average number of treatments was 4.9 ± 2.1 times. The cure rate was 44.1% after four weeks, 76.5% after six weeks, and 100% after eight weeks. The side effects of the treatment are transient, include: blisters (82.4%), discomfort (64.7%), subcutaneous hemorrhage (11.8%), local infection (7.4%), and scarring (6.4%). The duration of the disease, the size of cutaneous wart lesions and subtype of diseases are related to the number of treatments (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There is a high cure rate for cutaneous warts with liquid nitrogen. The side effects are transient. The duration of the disease, the size of cutaneous wart lesions and subtype of diseases are related to the number of treatments and and limited. Key words: cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, cutaneous warts, palmar plantar wart.