TISSUE REPARATION OF THE LIVER AFTER THERMOSURGICAL AND CRYOSURGICAL LESIONS - COMPARATIVE CELL ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATION

Histological and cell kinetic studies were performed on the liver of rats after local thermocoagulation. The dynamics of the wound healing were compared with those after in situ freezing (cryonecrosis) of the liver. The postoperative time ranged from 12 hr to 30 days. In the histological slides the morphological changes and the percentages of cells in the granulation tissue as well as in the autoradiograms were determined. The morphologic consequences of cryolesions in the liver are characterized by a shorter duration of the leukocytic reaction, stronger activities of macrophages, and a relatively prominent fibroblast-fibrocyte involvement. The dynamic process of the wound healing after cryonecrosis leads to a small fibrous scar 3-4 weeks postoperatively. After thermonecrosis, the leukocytic reaction is prolonged, the resorptive activity of the granulation tissue is lower but still visible 4 weeks after the injury, and the thermonecrotic carbonized material is not yet resorbed. Therefore, it can be stated that thermosurgically induced tissue lesions exhibit a delayed wound healing in comparison to other physical injuries, especially cryosurgical processes. © 1979.