Anatomical and histopathological profile of head and neck neoplasms in Persian pediatric and adolescent population

Abstract

Background Neoplasms of the head and neck region are relatively uncommon in childhood. The present study aimed to describe and compare the anatomical and histopathological distribution of head and neck neoplasms in Persian pediatric and adolescent population. Methods Patients who presented with primary head and neck tumors were included in this study. Orbital and skin tumors and neoplasms with secondary (metastatic) involvement of the head and neck were excluded from the study. Based on the data obtained from a tertiary referral hospital tumor registry and oncology department, a total of 152 benign and malignant neoplasms of the head and neck in patients aged 19 years or younger (99 boys), whom were reported to this institution between 2000 and 2007, were analyzed in this study. This number represented 10% of all pediatric and adolescent population. Results The patients’ age at presentation was 1–19 years (median 12 years). The peak incidence was observed in the adolescent population (34.2% of patients). There were 136 (89.5%) malignant tumors and 16 (10.5%) benign neoplasms. Cervical lymph nodes, nasopharynx, sinonasal and salivary glands were the most frequent primary sites and accounted for 60% of all primary sites. Lymphomas [Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (30%), Hodgkin's disease (25%)], carcinomas (20%), and sarcomas (10.5%) were the most frequent histopathological types. Conclusion The most frequent primary site, malignant histopathological type, and male–female ratio in our study were comparable with other reported series; however, the ratio of benign to malignant lesions is different from most studies.