Primary malignant oro-facial lesions: a review of cases in a tertiary institution in the Niger Delta

Abstract

Background: Oro-facial malignancies are among major causes of morbidity and mortality the world over with varying incidence in different geographical locations.

Aim: To review oro-facial malignancies seen at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and to compare results with reports from other centres.

Methods: All histologically diagnosed cancers of the oro-facial region seen at UPTH between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Records of these patients were retrieved for age, gender, site of tumour occurrence, duration and the histological diagnosis. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 20 and summary statistics of frequency and central tendency were presented.

Results: Malignant lesions constituted20.3% of biopsies received during the study period. The mean age of patients was 43.0 ± 20.6 years and gender distribution was 25 males to 19 females. Carcinomas occurred most, constituting 28 (63.6%) of the total, followed by sarcomas [10 (22.7%)] and lymphomas [6 (13.6%)]. Squamous cell carcinoma (43.0%) was the commonest of the carcinomas seen and rhabdomyosarcoma (40.0%) was the predominant sarcoma. All lymphomas were of the non-Hodgkin's type with Burkitt's lymphoma representing 50.0%. The mean age of occurrence of carcinomas was 52.5 ± 16.1 years, sarcomas 31.8 ± 13.4 years and lymphomas 17.7 ± 20.4 years.  

Conclusion: Oro-facial cancers represented about a fifth of all histologically diagnosed lesions and affected males more. Carcinomas occurred most and patients above 40 years of age were mainly affected. Rhadomyosarcomas were the predominant sarcomas while all lymphomas were of the non-Hodgkin's type.

Keywords: Head and neck cancer, Review, Niger Delta