English

Abstract

Background: The oro-facial region including the jawbones and related tissuescan be the site of a multitude of neoplastic conditions. This region is minefield for many benignor malignant neoplastic conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern ofoccurrence of oral and maxillofacial tumours amongst paediatric patients treated at MuhimbiliNational Hospital. Study Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Department of Oral andMaxillofacial Surgery in Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). Period: January 2008 to December2013. 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 usingversion 19 of SPSS computer program. Results: A total of 1447 histological results of patientswith oral and maxillofacial lesions were obtained from the archives, of which 138 (9.5%) werehistological results of children under 15 years. Male to Female ratio was 1:1. The age rangedfrom 0 to 15 years, mean age being 10.8 ± 3.8. The most affected age groups were of 6-10and 11-15. Ameloblastoma was the most common benign lesion, while Burkitt’s lymphoma wasthe commonest malignant lesions. Conclusion: Benign lesions are the most common oral andmaxillofacial lesions among paediatric patients, and their prevalence increase with increasingage. The pattern of occurrence of oral and maxillofacial tumours in this study will be of interestto the clinicians and pathologists as it shades light to the trend of oral and maxillofacial lesionin children.