Efficacy of Intralesional Cryosurgery in the Treatment of Multiple Extragenital Cutaneous Warts: A Randomized Controlled Study

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of intralesional (IL) cryosurgery in the treatment of cutaneous warts has not been previously studied. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of IL cryosurgery versus electrosurgery in multiple extragenital warts and investigate their effect on serum interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients were included; 18 received IL cryosurgery, and 13 had electrosurgery. Treatment was performed for the largest or few (2-3) small warts (target) until cleared, leaving the remaining (distant) warts untreated. Clinical response of the target and distant warts and adverse effects were evaluated. Serum IL-12 and IFN-γ levels were assessed before and after treatment. RESULTS: All patients had complete clearing of the treated wart in both groups. IL cryosurgery was well tolerated; infection, ulceration, and recurrence occurred only with electrosurgery. Complete/near-complete resolution of the distant untreated warts was seen in 33.3% versus none of patients in the IL cryosurgery and electrosurgery groups, respectively (p = .003). Furthermore, IL-12 and IFN-γ levels showed a tendency to increase after IL cryosurgery, and their increase correlated with distant wart response. CONCLUSION: Intralesional cryosurgery is effective not only in clearing treated warts but also resolving untreated warts and possibly enhances human papillomavirus-directed immune response.