MANAGEMENT OF SOLID AMELOBLASTOMA OF THE JAWS WITH LIQUID-NITROGEN SPRAY CRYOSURGERY

Objective. This study evaluated the results of the use of curettage fo llowed by liquid nitrogen spray cryosurgery in a number of solid or mu lticystic ameloblastomas of the jaws and the postoperative complicatio ns related to this treatment modality. Study design. Thirty-six patien ts with solid ameloblastoma of the jaws were treated with curettage fo llowed by cryosurgery. The cryotherapy consisted of hand instrumented curettage of the bone lesion followed by three freezing cycles, of 1 m inute each, of the remaining bone cavity with liquid nitrogen spray. P ostoperative complications were evaluated clinically and radiographica lly. Results. Local recurrence occurred in 11 (30.6%) patients. Except ing local recurrence, postoperative complications were frequent but no t severe: wound dehiscence (5.5%), paraesthesia (5.5%), infection (5.5 %), and pathologic fracture (11.1%). Conclusion. Management of solid o r mu ticystic ameloblastomas of the jaws with curettage followed by cr yosurgery may decrease the local recurrence rate and also to reduce th e initial indication of resection with continuity defect.