A retrospective analysis of efficacy and recurrence rate for viral warts treated by cryotherapy

Background: Cryotherapy is a standard treatment for warts. However, there have been few studies to assess the recurrence rate of warts after cryotherapy. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and recurrence rate of common viral warts when treated with liquid nitrogen. Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of patients with warts of the hands and/or feet, who had been treated with cryotherapy in Korea University Ansan Hospital between January 2003 and June 2005. Cryotherapy had been performed at 2- or 3-weekly intervals. Warts had been pared prior to freezing and treated with two or three freeze-thaw cycles. Follow-up assessments for recurrence of warts had been done in 78 cases, with a mean follow-up time of 12 months (range 6-30 months). Results: One-hundred and eighty-one patients (78 females, 103 males) were assessed. The mean age was 19.6 years (range 5-73 years). Sixty nine patients had warts on the hands only, 81 on the feet only, and 31 on both sites. The average number of treatments for cured patients was 4.3 (range 1-8). Eighty patients showed complete clearance (44.2%). Thirteen of the 78 patients who could be followed up by telephone or medical records reported recurrences (16.7%) and the mean time of recurrence was 7.7 months. Most recurrences (10/13) occurred within the first 8 months of cryotherapy. Conclusion: We consider that cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is an effective method for the treatment of warts. However, our results indicate that there may be frequent recurrence of warts after treatment with cryotherapy.