RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL PATHOLOGY IN A BRAZILIAN PEDIATRIC POPULATION OVER A 43-YEAR PERIOD

Abstract

Objectives To analyze the prevalence of oral and maxillofacial lesions in a Brazilian pediatric population. Study Design This retrospective study was performed with biopsy files of patients between 0 to 14 years of age retrieved from a Brazilian oral pathology laboratory over a 43-year period (1978-2021). Sex, age, site, and diagnoses were collected and separated into categories. The prevalence of each entity was calculated based on the absolute number of lesions. Results Of 19,456 lesions diagnosed, 1480 (7.6%) were identified in patients aged 0 to 14 years. Most children were 10 to 14 years of age (60.1%). Females (55.1%) and the lower lip (28.3%) were most affected in comparison to males (44.8%) and other locations. Salivary gland lesions (28.8%) were the most common type, followed by reactive lesions (18.8%) and cysts (16.1%). Mucocele (33.5%), dentigerous cyst (6.7%), and fibrous hyperplasia (5.9%) were the most frequent oral lesions. Malignant lesions were the least common, affecting 0.9% of this population. Conclusions Our results were similar to other retrospective studies. Data on the prevalence of oral lesions in the pediatric population might aid in the clinical and histopathologic diagnosis of this population. To analyze the prevalence of oral and maxillofacial lesions in a Brazilian pediatric population. This retrospective study was performed with biopsy files of patients between 0 to 14 years of age retrieved from a Brazilian oral pathology laboratory over a 43-year period (1978-2021). Sex, age, site, and diagnoses were collected and separated into categories. The prevalence of each entity was calculated based on the absolute number of lesions. Of 19,456 lesions diagnosed, 1480 (7.6%) were identified in patients aged 0 to 14 years. Most children were 10 to 14 years of age (60.1%). Females (55.1%) and the lower lip (28.3%) were most affected in comparison to males (44.8%) and other locations. Salivary gland lesions (28.8%) were the most common type, followed by reactive lesions (18.8%) and cysts (16.1%). Mucocele (33.5%), dentigerous cyst (6.7%), and fibrous hyperplasia (5.9%) were the most frequent oral lesions. Malignant lesions were the least common, affecting 0.9% of this population. Our results were similar to other retrospective studies. Data on the prevalence of oral lesions in the pediatric population might aid in the clinical and histopathologic diagnosis of this population.