Use of gas combination cryosurgery for treating ameloblastomas of the jaw.

This study evaluated the results of curettage followed by spray propane, butane, and isobutane gas combination cryosurgery in 10 patients with ameloblastoma. The patients' age ranged from 7 to 87 years (mean, 31 years), with equal prevalence in both men and women. Five cases were diagnosed as solid ameloblastomas and 5 as unicystic ameloblastomas. Before enucleation and cryosurgery, the unicystic lesions received marsupialisation to decrease their size. No patient showed evidence of clinical or radiographic recurrence, pathologic fracture, or infection after treatment with enucleation and cryosurgery. The most common complication was wound dehiscence, which was observed in all cases. The average follow-up period was 60.5 months (range 48-108 months). These results show that enucleation followed by cryosurgery is an effective therapy for managing ameloblastomas.