Management of solid ameloblastoma of the jaws with liquid nitrogen spray cryosurgery.

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the results of the use of curettage followed by liquid nitrogen spray cryosurgery in a number of solid or multicystic ameloblastomas of the jaws and the postoperative complications related to this treatment modality. STUDY DESIGN Thirty-six patients with solid ameloblastoma of the jaws were treated with curettage followed by cryosurgery. The cryotherapy consisted of hand instrumented curettage of the bone lesion followed by three freezing cycles, of 1 minute each, of the remaining bone cavity with liquid nitrogen spray. Postoperative complications were evaluated clinically and radiographically. RESULTS Local recurrence occurred in 11 (30.6%) patients. Excepting local recurrence, postoperative complications were frequent but not severe: wound dehiscence (5.5%), paraesthesia (5.5%), infection (5.5%), and pathologic fracture (11.1%). CONCLUSION Management of solid or multicystic ameloblastomas of the jaws with curettage followed by cryosurgery may decrease the local recurrence rate and also to reduce the initial indication of resection with continuity defect.