The use of enucleation and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy in the management of odontogenic keratocysts.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the use of enucleation and cryosurgery in the management of odontogenic keratocysts.


METHODS
This study involved a retrospective review of 26 patients. All of the patients received a combination of enucleation and cryosurgery. Postoperative follow-up consisted of clinical and radiographic examinations.


RESULTS
Before enucleation and cryotherapy, 22 of the 26 patients had received previous treatment consisting of enucleation alone. The average time from initial treatment to recurrence was 6.2 years. Twenty-three cases occurred in the mandible, 22 in the posterior (proximal to the canine), and 1 in the anterior mandible. Three cases involved the maxilla. Three of the 26 patients (11.5%) developed a recurrence after treatment. The average time from treatment to recurrence in these 3 patients was 1.6 years (range, 1.2 to 1.9 years). The remaining 23 patients (88.5%) had no evidence of clinical or radiographic recurrence. The average time of follow-up was 3.5 years (range, 2.0 to 10.0 years).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these results, the combination of enucleation and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy may offer patients improved therapy in the management of odontogenic keratocysts.
Schmidt
B L
BL
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0440, USA.
Pogrel
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002648:Child; D003452:Cryosurgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
D009584:Nitrogen