The spectrum and frequency of histopathological diagnosis of oral diseases in Oslo: Implications to oral pathology syllabus.

Abstract

To assure knowledge and skills in diagnostic work of oral diseases a continuously updated curriculum is essential. The first aim of the present study was to evaluate the spectrum and frequency of oral histopathological diagnoses signed out by oral pathologists at the Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital (OUS), Norway during a two-year period. The second aim was to compare the spectrum of histopathological diagnoses with the content of the current syllabus in oral pathology at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo (UiO). In this retrospective cross-sectional study, all histological diagnosis signed out during 2015 and 2016 were included. All histopathological reports were analysed with regard to clinical information and histopathological diagnosis. The spectrum of histopathological diagnoses was compared to the diagnoses presented in lectures and courses for dental and dental hygienist students at UiO. Three thousand four hundred and two histopathological reports (47% males and 53% females) were included. The diagnoses were categorised into eight disease groups and the three most frequent disease groups were cysts, benign tumours/reactive lesions, and white, red, ulcerative and vesiculobullous lesions. The lateral periodontal cyst was more frequent than expected. We conclude that a minor revision of the syllabus is needed, although the most frequent oral conditions presented in this study are well covered in the oral pathology teaching in Oslo. A more clinical related teaching approach should be considered by categorising oral diseases according to, for example location and age groups.