title: Oral cavity rare lesions: 15 years case histories.
abstract: OBJECTIVES.: Oral cavity rare diseases include a various group of uncommon morbid conditions. For this reason they are often called "orphan diseases", as they are not interesting for research and the description of their natural history is not easy. The aim of our study is to analyze the prevalence and the distribution of oral cavity rare diseases in order to increase their knowledge and allow a fast therapeutic approach.  METHODS AND MATERIAL.: 3144 patients took part to our study, they were choosen according to specific criteria and included in a experimental program; they all were prepared for oral biopsy surgery at Fatebenefratelli Hospital - Tor Vergata University of Rome. Following the results of the histological diagnosis, patients have been grouped.  RESULTS.: From 1996 to 2010, we observed 1635 men and 1509 women, average age was 53 years, higher for women (55y.) and lower for men (52y.).  CONCLUSIONS.: Nevertheless the low level of accordance and the difficulty in description of natural history of diseases reported in literature, we can conclude that, according to our study the onset of rare diseases shows a percentage of appearing statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: "S. Giovanni Calibita - Fatebenefratelli" Hospital, University of Rome "Tor Vergata"- Department of Periodontics;
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Bartuli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muzzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caddeo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ottria
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arcuri
keywords: excisional biopsy; incisional biopsy; rare lesions