ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL TUMORS;

AN AUDIT IN PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS ATTENDED IN MNH, TANZANIA: A 6 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Abstract

Background: The oro-facial region including the jawbones and related tissues
can be the site of a multitude of neoplastic conditions. This region is minefield for many benign
or malignant neoplastic conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of
occurrence of oral and maxillofacial tumours amongst paediatric patients treated at Muhimbili
National Hospital. Study Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Department of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery in Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). Period: January 2008 to December
2013. Methodology: Histological results of lesions that occurred in oral and maxillofacial region.
Patient’s demographic data, histopathological diagnosis and the type of tumour were recorded.
The lesions were broadly grouped as benign and malignant. Data analysis was done using
version 19 of SPSS computer program. Results: A total of 1447 histological results of patients
with oral and maxillofacial lesions were obtained from the archives, of which 138 (9.5%) were
histological results of children under 15 years. Male to Female ratio was 1:1. The age ranged
from 0 to 15 years, mean age being 10.8 ± 3.8. The most affected age groups were of 6-10
and 11-15. Ameloblastoma was the most common benign lesion, while Burkitt’s lymphoma was
the commonest malignant lesions. Conclusion: Benign lesions are the most common oral and
maxillofacial lesions among paediatric patients, and their prevalence increase with increasing
age. The pattern of occurrence of oral and maxillofacial tumours in this study will be of interest
to the clinicians and pathologists as it shades light to the trend of oral and maxillofacial lesion
in children.