OBJECTIVE: Based on the data of domestic and foreign literature, as well as our own research, to evaluate the possibility of treating patients with extensive jaw cysts, including those undergoing military service in seafarers, using various surgical methods.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of the literature presented in domestic and foreign scientometric databases over the past 10 years was made. 15 domestic and 37 foreign scientific papers from the PubMed international medical library, the CyberLeninka electronic library and the elibrary medical electronic portal were analyzed. Publications were studied for the following keywords: odontogenic cysts of the jaws, cystectomy, cystotomy, marsupialization, decompression drainage, guided bone regeneration, keratocysts.RESULTS: During the study of specialized literature over the past 10 years, it was revealed that in the context of the treatment of extensive jaw cysts, the description of the cystectomy operation was most common: in 65.0% of domestic and 50.0% of foreign literature sources. Cystotomy was found in 25.0% and 33.3% among domestic and foreign sources. The method of marsupialization was used less often only in 10.0% in domestic literature and in 17.7% in foreign literature.DISCUSSION: Analysis of literature sources of domestic and foreign databases has demonstrated the most frequent use of cystotomy and cystectomy in the treatment of extensive jaw cysts and extremely rare use of decompression drainage, despite the significant advantages of using the marsupialization method, namely minimizing the likelihood of damage to neighboring anatomical structures, preventing subsequent possible deformation of the jaws, reducing the risk of recurrence of jaw cysts, as well as the development of postoperative and intraoperative complications compared with cystotomy and cystectomy.CONCLUSION: Based on the review of the literature and our own research, this article examines the main options for surgical treatment, and also assesses the possibility of using decompression drainage to provide emergency care in a campaign and treat military personnel with extensive cavity formations of the jaws.