A STUDY OF OROFACIAL TUMORS IN NIGERIAN CHILDREN

Purpose: This study evaluated the type and distribution of tumors in t he orofacial tissues of black African children. Patients and Methods: The hospital records of all patients aged 15 years or younger, who pre sented 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 duri ng the study period occurred in the pediatric age-group. The male-fema le ratio was 1.4 to 1 and 11- to 15-year-olds were most frequently aff ected, 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 nonodon togenic tumors. The anterior part of the mandible was frequently invol ved by ameloblastoma, which was the most common odontogenic tumor (6.3 %). Most of the benign nonodontogenic tumors were of mesenchymal origi n (46%), and most were located in soft tissues (59.5%). Burkitt's lymp homa (22.4%) was the most common malignant nonodontogenic tumor. Concl usion: The observed differences in tumor type and distribution in this study compared with previous studies may be attributable to genetic a nd geographic differences in the populations studied.