title: Oral lesions in elderly population: a biopsy survey using 2250 histopathological records.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform an oral biopsy survey focused on the incidence of oral lesions in Brazilian elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 17 329 oral biopsy records were analysed and divided into two age groups: elderly patients, > or =60 years old; and non-elderly patients, <60 years old. Information about sex, race, age and histopathological diagnosis (categorised in non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions) was collected. Differences of diagnosis incidence were tested by comparison between two proportions (binomial test).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of epithelial malignant neoplasms and pre-malignant lesions in the elderly group was higher than non-elderly group, as well as autoimmune diseases and salivary gland tumours. The three most prevalent lesions in the elderly group were inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia, squamous cell carcinoma, and fibroma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of oral diseases using biopsies allows greater accuracy in data about oral health of elderly patients, especially when considering malignant and pre-malignant lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. lcorrea@usp.br
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.forename: Maria Luiza Moreira Arantes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Frigerio
authors.forename: Suzana Cantanhede Orsini Machado
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Moacyr Domingos
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Novelli
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology; D003778:Dentures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000453:epidemiology