A study of orofacial tumors in Nigerian children.

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the type and distribution of tumors in the orofacial tissues of black African children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The hospital records of all patients aged 15 years or younger, who presented at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (a tertiary referral center) with a histologically confirmed orofacial tumor over a 13-year period were analyzed.

RESULTS

One-fifth of all orofacial tumors during the study period occurred in the pediatric age-group. The male-female ratio was 1.4 to 1 and 11- to 15-year-olds were most frequently affected. Benign tumors (59.8%) were more prevalent than malignant tumors (40.2%). Overall, 18.4% of the tumors were of odontogenic origin, 42.5% were benign nonodontogenic tumors, and 39.1% were malignant nonodontogenic tumors. The anterior part of the mandible was frequently involved by ameloblastoma, which was the most common odontogenic tumor (6.3%). Most of the benign nonodontogenic tumors were of mesenchymal origin (46%), and most were located in soft tissues (59.5%). Burkitt's lymphoma (22.4%) was the most common malignant nonodontogenic tumor.

CONCLUSION

The observed differences in tumor type and distribution in this study compared with previous studies may be attributable to genetic and geographic differences in the populations studied.