Abstract
Objective: To audit and categorize pathological lesions and conditions that occurred in the orofacial region among children aged up to 15 yrs. Setting: Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania. Design: Retrospective cross-sectional audit based on archival records and material between 1985 to 2005. Results: Biopsy results were generated into 11 categories whence most common lesions encountered were in the categories of soft tissue benign neoplasms (35.1%) and soft tissue malignant neoplasms (21.8%). Remarkably, Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) in the category of malignant soft tissue neoplasia constituted 11.8% of all the lesions biopsied while haemangiomas and tuberculous adenitis comprised 8.1% and 3.8% respectively. The age groups revealed the highest burden (37.1%) among the 0 to 5-year-olds followed by the 11 to 15-(34.5%) and 6 to 10-year-olds (28.4%). The orofacial site distribution among the 211 biopsied cases included 62.1% in the mandibular 29.9% in the maxillary region and 8% in the tongue areas. Malignant neoplasms of the bone were rare and all were diagnosed in the mandible. Overall, malignant neoplasms of soft tissue were significantly more in the age group of 6 - 10 years as well as in males than females. On the other hand, significantly more benign soft tissue neoplasms occurred in females than in males. Main Outcome Measure: There is great diversity and preponderance of soft tissue than skeletal orofacial lesions on the present audit. Significantly, clinicians should maintain high index of suspicion regarding the remarkably high frequency of diagnosing BL and tuberculous lymphadenitis in such a population in this era of HIV infection/AIDS.
Highlights
Over the past two decades there has been a clear desire, worldwide, for the development of realistic evidencebased oral health policies that are integrated in general health care systems
Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) in the category of malignant soft tissue neoplasia constituted 11.8% of all the lesions biopsied while haemangiomas and tuberculous adenitis comprised 8.1% and 3.8% respectively
Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) in the category of malignant soft tissue neoplasia constituted 11.8% of all the lesions biopsied while haemangiomas comprised 8.1% of the cases
Summary
Over the past two decades there has been a clear desire, worldwide, for the development of realistic evidencebased oral health policies that are integrated in general health care systems For this reason, the development of reporting comparable data on oral diseases is essential [1]. Prevailing paradigms in health care prioritization maintain that oral health has a significant impact on nutrition and the overall quality of life [2] In developing nations such as Tanzania, resources for the provision of adequate oral health care have remained somewhat strained due to limitations in general economic development. Few studies worldwide have attempted to map comprehensive paediatric oral neoplasms [3,4,5,6,7] Studies of such audits in Tanzania have only been based at the Muhimbili National Hospital [8].
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