Advance Search

Cryotherapy of 2 weeks versus 3 weeks interval for Common warts

Intiha Mohamed Almosuly
Department of Medicine/ Dermatology, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
shadan Hassan Mohammed
Department of Medicine/ Dermatology, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
Keywords:
Copyright and Licensing:

Copyright (c) 2013 Intiha Mohamed Almosuly, shadan Hassan Mohammed (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Share:
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Abstract

Background and objective: Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is a widely used method for treatment of common warts by dermatologists. Traditionally, when treating warts, liquid nitrogen is applied at intervals of 3 weeks. This study was designed to compare the efficacy, and time to clearance of 2-week and 3-week interval cryotherapy of patients attending the department of dermatology and venereology at Rizgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil City.

Methods: In This comparative study 80 immunocompetant patients, age range 10-55 years with common warts on the hands and/or feet were enrolled from November 2008 through May 2009. Patients were randomized to receive cryotherapy at interval of either 2 or 3 weeks. All patients allocated to have liquid nitrogen applied with a cryo-spray technique. Cure rates were evaluated in both groups after 3 months and after 6 treatments.

Results: 72 patients completed the study. The mean times for clearance of all warts in both groups were 9 weeks in every 2-week treatment group and 14 weeks in every 3-week treatment group. The mean numbers of treatment sessions required to achieve clearance were similar in each group (4.5 and 4.7 treatment sessions) for 2- and 3- week interval groups respectively. Cure rates at 3 months were 64% in the 2-week interval treatment group and 45% in the 3-week group. After 6 treatment sessions cure rates were similar for both groups; 65% and 60% for 2- and 3- week interval groups respectively. Morbidity was slightly greater in the 2-week interval treatment group.

Conclusion: Cryotherapy of common warts is effective and the percentage of cure is related to the number of treatments received, and independent from the period between treatments.

PDF
PDF

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

  1. Gibbs S. Local treatment for cutaneous warts. In: Williams H, Bigboy M, Diepgen T, Herxheimer A, Naldi L, Rzany B (editors). Evidence Based Dermatology. 1st ed. London. BMJ books, 2003; Pp 423-30.
  2. Ashish C. Bahatia. Operative procedures. Manual of Dermatologic Therapeutics, Arndt, Kenneth A; Hsu, Jeffrey T.S. 7th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007; 251-3.
  3. Thai KE, Sinclair RD. Cryosurgery of benign skin lesions. Australas J Dermatol, Nov, 1999; 40(4):175-84.
  4. Kuflik EG, Gage AA. The five-year cure rate achieved by cryosurgery for skin cancer. J Am Acad Dermatol, Jun, 1991; 24(6 Pt 1):1002-4.
  5. Keogh-Brown MR, Fordham RJ, Thomas KS, Bachmann MO, Holland RC, Avery AJ, et al. To freeze or not to freeze: A cost-effectiveness analysis of wart treatment. Br J Dermatol, Apr, 2007; 156(4):687-92.
  6. Kuwahara RT. Cryotherapy.eMedicine, 2007. (Accessed may 21, 2009, at http://www.emedicine.com/surg/topic 342 . htm.)
  7. Kuflik EG. Cryosurgery updated. J Am Acad Dermatol, Dec, 1994; 31(6):925-44.
  8. Torrelo A. What's New in the Treatment of Viral Warts in Children. Pediatric Dermatology, 2002; 19; 3: 191–9.
  9. Rasi A, Soltani-Arabshahi R, Khatami A. Cryotherapy for anogenital warts: factors affecting therapeutic response. Dermatol Online J, 2007; 13 (4): 2.
  10. Berman B. & Weinstein A. Treatment of warts.Dermatol Ther, 2000; 13 (3): 290-304.
  11. Bartell H. and Tyring S.K.Viral Diseases. In: Ali A. editor.dermatology: A Pictorial Review. New York. McGraw- Hill, 2007; Pp 253- 69.
  12. Ramsey K, Ragan C and Dheansa B. Adverse effects of over the counter cryotherapy. Burns, 2007; 33(4):533-4.
  13. Tirgar T, Hajian K, Seifollahpour L. Warts disease in scalp, face and extrimities in guidance school girls. Journal of Babol University of medical sciences, 2003; 5(4):1-6.
  14. Stulberg DL, Hutchinson AG. Molluscum Contagiosum and Warts. Am Fam Physician, 2003; 67(6):1233-40.
  15. Sterling JC, Handfield-Jones S, Hudson PM. British Association of Dermatologists. Guidelines for the management of cutaneous warts. Br J Dermatol, Jan, 2001; 144(1):4-11.
  16. Thomas KS, Keogh-Brown MR, Chalmers JR, Fordham RJ, Holland RC, Armstrong SJ, et al. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of salicylic acid and cryotherapy for cutaneous warts. An economic decision model. Health Technol Assess, Aug, 2006; 10(25): iii, ix-87.
  17. Bourke JF, Berth-Jones J, Hutchinson PE. Cryotherapy of common viral warts at intervals of 1, 2 and 3 weeks. Br J Dermatol, 1995; 132: 433-6.
  18. Bunney MH, Nolan MW, Williams DA. An assessment of methods of treating viral warts by comparative treatment trials based on a standard design. Br J Dermatol, Jun, 1976; 94:667-79.
  19. Berth-Jones J, Bourke J, Eglitis H, Harper C, Kirk P, Pavord S, et al. Value of a second freeze-thaw cycle in cryotherapy of common warts. Br J Dermatol, Dec, 1994; 131(6):883-6.
How to Cite
Almosuly, I. M., & Mohammed, shadan H. (2013). Cryotherapy of 2 weeks versus 3 weeks interval for Common warts. Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (Zanco J Med Sci), 17(2), 411–416. https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2013.0025

Send mail to Author

Send Cancel