title: Lip lesions in a Brazilian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The lips represent one of the most important parts of the facial complex because of a large number and variety of injuries that may be related to this anatomic site such as inflammatory processes and benign and malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to describe the pathologic features of the lip lesions seen in a Brazilian outpatient service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 6231 samples of oral biopsies were retrieved from the files of 5 anatomic pathology services in Fortaleza, Brazil. After data have been collected, the lesions were separated in 3 groups: G1 (nonmalignant dysplastic lesions/malignant tumors), G2 (benign neoplasms), and G3 (reactive/inflammatory lesions).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of the specimens for which an oral biopsy was performed yielded 1034 cases (16.6%) diagnosed on lip during the study period. From this total, 514 cases were in females and 520 were in males. Ages ranged from 2 to 96 years, with a global average of 40.1 years. The peak incidence of lip lesions in this study occurred in the fifth decade of life. The most common lesion in each group was squamous cell carcinoma (G1), hemangioma (G2), and mucocele (G3). Lower lip was the most affected region (65.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The largest number of cases represented nonmalignant conditions, which occurred mostly in the lower lip. In addition, malignancies increased significantly with the increase in age. Further studies are necessary for a better worldwide epidemiologic understanding about lip diseases.
authors: Division of Pathology, Fortaleza University, Fortaleza, Brazil.
authors: Rafael Lima Verde
authors: RL
authors: Osterne
authors: Fábio Wildson Gurgel
authors: FW
authors: Costa
authors: Mário Rogério Lima
authors: MR
authors: Mota
authors: Régia Maria Socorro
authors: RM
authors: Vidal Patrocínio
authors: Ana Paula Negreiros Nunes
authors: AP
authors: Alves
authors: Eduardo Costa Studart
authors: EC
authors: Soares
authors: Fabrício Bitu
authors: FB
authors: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric