title: Orofacial tumours and tumour-like lesions in Ghana: a 6-year prospective study.
abstract: A total of 182 patients with orofacial tumours and tumour-like lesions who attended the oral and maxillofacial surgical department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, were studied from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2003. Both malignant and benign tumours were recorded and were more common among men (99/182, 54%) in whom they were seen most often between the ages of 41 and 70 years. Among female patients they were more common in the 11-20 year age group. The mandible, maxilla, and palate were most often affected. A total of 108 tumours were diagnosed as malignant (59%), 27 (15%) as benign odontogenic tumours, and 47 (26%) as benign non-odontogenic and tumour-like lesions. Malignant tumours were usually detected in men between the ages of 41 and 70 years (43% of all men); whilst benign tumours were evenly distributed between the sexes with more among girls in the 11-20 year age group. The most common malignant tumours were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), (69/108, 64%) and lymphomas (18/108, 17%). The predominant benign odontogenic and non-odontogenic tumours were ameloblastoma and fibro-osseous lesions, respectively. The usual method of treatment was resection (58/182, 32%).
authors.affiliation: University of Ghana Dental School, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Ghana. graceparkins@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Parkins
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Armah
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tettey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000453:epidemiology; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult