Healing after removal of benign cysts and tumors of the jaws. A radiologic appraisal.

A retrospective review of the radiographic findings after removal of benign jaw cysts (n = 31) and ameloblastomas (n = 24) was carried out. The radiographic features of the site margins and interior contents were classified into four categories. In most patients radiographic changes were detected between 1 and 4 months after removal of the lesion, and complete bone healing was found 4 months or more after surgery. Radiographic changes included "spiculed" or "trabecular" contents within the interior of the surgical site. The fourth month was found to be the optimum time for follow-up radiographic examination for the early detection of residual lesions. In nine (53%) of the patients who had ameloblastoma, recurrent lesions were noted within or at the periphery of the original surgical sites 6 to 10 years after the initial tumor removal.