title: Malignant orofacial neoplasms in Lagos, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse general differences in age, gender, anatomic location of the various histological types of malignant neoplasm involving the oral and maxillofacial region at a tertiary referral centre in Nigeria and to compare this with reports in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary referral centre in Lagos, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with a histological diagnosis of malignancy were included provided the final surgical histology reports as well as the biopsy reports were available for review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) with a peak age incidence in the 6th decade of life and a male to female ratio of 1.65 to 1 was the most common cancer (42.8%). Males with SCCA (mean = 48.7 years) were relatively younger than females (mean = 58.8 years). Eighteen percent of patients with SCCA were below 40 years at presentation and males were predominantly affected at a ratio of 5.2:1. Majority of the SCCA (75%) were well/moderately well differentiated. However, in patients below 40 years, 45.9% had poorly differentiated SCCA. The Most commonly affected sites for SCCA were the maxillary antrum (36.7%), mandibular gingiva/ alveolus (23.0%) and tongue (12.04%). Patients who presented with antral SCCA were relatively younger (mean = 48.9 years) than those who had SCCA involving the mandibular gingiva/ alveolus (mean = 57.1 years) as well as floor of mouth (mean = 56.3 years). Furthermore, males with antral SCCA were younger than their female counterparts. Similarly, males who had mandibular gingiva/ alveolus SCCA (mean = 48.4 years) were younger than their female counterparts (mean = 62.8 years). Majority of the glandular carcinomas (GLDCAs) arose from minor salivary glands (63.0%). Thirty seven per cent of these patients were below 40 years at presentation. Females who had antral GLDCA (mean = 32.4 years) were relatively younger than their male counterparts (mean = 49 years). Most of the patients who presented with sarcoma were below 40 years (77.4%) and males were younger (22. 8 years) than females (mean = 35.4 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of orofacial cancers that is SCCA in Nigerians is relatively low because of a relatively high proportion of GLDCA and Burkitt's lymphoma. A relatively high proportion of patients with SCCA were below 40 years at presentation. They were predominantly males who presented with poorly differentiated tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Arotiba
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ladeinde
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Oyeneyin
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Nwawolo
authors.forename: A A F
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Banjo
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Ajayi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010337:Pathology Department, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution