title: Oral tumours in Tanzanian children based on biopsy materials examined over a 15-year period from 1982 to 1997.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide information on the types and distribution of oral tumours and tumour-like lesions occurring in a Tanzanian child population aged 0-16 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of biopsy results from hospital records from 1982-1997.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Histopathology, the Muhimbili Medical Centre (MMC) in Dar es Salaam. INTERVENTION/ METHODS: A total of 158 biopsy results, from 75 girls and 83 boys, were retrieved and studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Malignant tumours were the most frequent (43.0%) followed by benign tumours (30.4%) and tumour-like lesions (26.6%). Burkitt's lymphoma was the most frequent malignant tumour accounting for 88.2% of all malignancies followed by squamous cell carcinoma (4.4%) and oral Kaposi's sarcoma (2.9%). Fibroma, papilloma and haemangioma were the most frequent benign tumours constituting 27.1%, 14.6% and 12.5%, respectively. Odontogenic cysts were the most frequent tumour-like lesions (28.6%) followed by fibrous dysplasia (19%) and giant cell granuloma (16.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The six most common oral lesions were Burkitt's lymphoma, fibroma, odontogenic cysts, fibrous dysplasia, papilloma and giant cell granuloma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery & Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kalyanyama
authors.forename: M I N
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Matee
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vuhahula
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001706:Biopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005350:Fibroma / Q000453:epidemiology; D005357:Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000453:epidemiology; D010212:Papilloma / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology