Cryotherapy and biopsy order: which sequence is correct?

• A. Do biopsy first, then cryotherapy
• B. Do cryotherapy first, then biopsy
• C. Either order
• D. Cryotherapy only

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is to preserve diagnostic tissue before any destructive treatment. Cryotherapy creates freezing injury and necrosis that disrupts cellular detail and tissue architecture, producing artifacts that can obscure or distort the pathologist’s interpretation. If you freeze first, the biopsy sample may be nondiagnostic or misinterpreted, making it harder to confirm the diagnosis and plan appropriate care. By obtaining a biopsy first, you secure an accurate histologic diagnosis, then you can proceed with cryotherapy if treatment is indicated.