Two-Dimensional Change in the Cystic Defects after Decompression and Enucleation of Jaw Cysts - A Comparative Study

INTRODUCTION: To compare the treatment methods of enucleation and decompression with regards to reduction of the dimension of the cystic defect with the aid of a software program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with regular controls of 3, 6, and 12 months treated between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2021, were selected and included in the study. Sixteen patients were treated with enucleation and 14 patients with decompression. All preoperative and control radiographic and clinical data were retrieved from the archives. The area measurement of cystic cavities was made on panoramic radiographs taken at preoperative (T0), 3-month (T1), 6-month (T2), and 12-month (T3) control periods with a software program. Intra-group and inter-group analyses were made to compare the reduction of cystic defects between two treatment methods. RESULTS: The mean age of study patients was 45.2 ± 7.3. Eighteen of them were male and 12 of them were female. Statistically, a significant difference was not observed between decompression and enucleation groups at T0, T1, T2, and T3 control periods (P > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the defect dimensions between all control periods in both decompression and enucleation groups (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Decompression and enucleation of jaw cysts are both successful in reducing cystic cavities. However, there is no superiority between the two treatment modalities regarding the defect reduction at the 12-month control period.