Changes in salivary immunoglobulin levels after cryosurgery of benign and malignant lesions of the oral cavity

: The authors have evaluated variations in salivary IgA, IgG, IgM levels after cryosurgical treatment of benign and malignant oral lesions. Salivary immunoglobulin levels were measured by radial immunodiffusion before a single cryotreatment 7 and 14 days after. Seven days after cryosurgery of the lesions, there was a statistically significant increase in salivary IgG and IgM levels (p less than 0,02). These results suggest that, at the time of maximal oral cavity inflammation, 7 days after cryotreatment, there was a transudation of these immunoglobulins from serum into saliva. Salivary IgA levels decrease in a significant way (p less than 0,02) on the 14th day; this behaviour seems to be strictly connected with tumor regression after cryosurgery.