Effect of decompression on cystic lesions of the mandible: 3-dimensional volumetric analysis

Decompression is effective in reducing both the size of cystic lesions on jaws and the associated morbidity of resection. However, quantitative measurement of reduced volume after decompression among different cystic diseases has not been fully investigated. We have retrospectively investigated the difference in reduction in volume among keratocystic odontogenic tumours (n=17), unicystic ameloblastomas (n=10), and dentigerous cysts (n=10) of the posterior mandible using 3-dimensional computed tomography (CT). Various other influential factors such as age, sex, the presence of impacted teeth, and the number of drains were also recorded. There was no significant difference in the speed of shrinkage among the 3 groups, but there was a significant correlation (p<0.01) between the initial detected volume of the lesion and the absolute speed of shrinkage in each type of cyst. Initial volume was also significantly associated (p<0.01) with reduction of total volume in each type of cyst. Age may correlate negatively with the rate of reduction in dentigerous cysts, which means that the older the patient is, the less the reduction. Treatment seemed to last longer as the speed of shrinkage lessened in the keratocystic tumours and dentigerous cysts (p<0.05) as multiple regression has shown. The relative speed of shrinkage of unicystic ameloblastomas seemed to be slower when an impacted tooth was involved in the lesion (p=0.019). However, the sample size was too small to make any definite statistical statement. These results suggest that the rate of reduction of volume was related to the original size of the lesion. Despite the need for a second operation and longer duration of treatment compared with excision alone, decompression is a valuable way of reducing the size of large cystic lesions, with low morbidity and recurrence rate. There was no difference in the rate of reduction according to the underlying histopathological picture.