Malignant neoplasms of the maxillary antrum in Nigerians.
OBJECTIVE
To highlight the presentation of antral cancers in Nigerians.


METHODS
Hospital records of all patients with a histologically diagnosed antral cancer who presented at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (a tertiary referral centre) over a 16 year period were analysed.


RESULTS
28.7% of orofacial cancers and 12.6% of head and neck cancers were located in the antrum. 54.1% were squamous cell carcinoma, 27.4% were minor mucus gland carcinoma and 14.8% were mesenchymal cancers. Males were more frequently affected (ratio 1.7 to 1) and were relatively younger (peak age = 4th decade) than females (peak age = 6th decade). Males who had squamous cell carcinoma (x = 47.5 +/- 18.8 years) were relatively younger than their female counterparts (x = 57.2 +/- 13.8 years). But females with minor mucus gland carcinoma were relatively younger (x = 34.2 +/- 19.5 years) than males (x = 49.1 +/- 17.9 years). All patients had facial swelling at presentation and the most frequent initial symptom was toothache (36.2%). Fifty-two percent had prior treatment and the most common was an extraction of a molar tooth (50%). Two-thirds of the patients were of low socio-economic status.


CONCLUSIONS
Antral cancer constituted sizeable proportion of orofacial and head and neck cancers in Nigerians. Clinicians need to maintain a high index of suspicion in cases of maxillary molar toothache or mobility of obscure aetiology. Predisposing aetiologic factors of this disease peculiar to our environment need to be further investigated.
Arotiba
G T
GT
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Surulere, Lagos.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008444:Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution