title: Paediatric orofacial tumours: new oral health concern in paediatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to determine the incidence, age, gender, orofacial sites and histological pattern of paediatric orofacial tumours in a Nigerian population. The yearly findings will be analysed to identify the interval for increase in the incidence of paediatric orofacial tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 21-year (1990 to 2010) retrospective analysis of paediatric orofacial tumours in children younger than 16 years was carried out in the Department of Oral Pathology/Oral Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1013 diagnosed lesions within the study period, there were 137 (13.5%) paediatric orofacial tumours, among which 71 (51.8%) cases occurred within the last 6 years (2005 to 2010). There was male predilection for the lesions (78 males to 59 females, ratio = 1.3:1). The mean age was 9 + 4.3 years, with peak age group of 11 to 15 years (n=60, 43.8%). The mandible (n=44, 32.1%), followed by the maxilla (n=42, 30.7%) and orofacial soft tissue (n=19, 13.9%) were the most common sites. The benign tumours (n=72, 52.6%) were slightly more than the malignant tumours (n=65, 47.4%). There were more malignant tumours (n=23, 16.8%) than benign tumours (n=20, 14.6%) within the last 3 years (2008 to 2010) under review. Burkitt's lymphoma (n=38, 27.7%) was the commonest malignant lesion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed a recent increase in the incidence of paediatric orofacial tumours, particularly due to a higher incidence of Burkitt's lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Department of Oral Pathology/Oral Medicine, PMB 1111 , Benin, Edo State, 300001 Nigeria.
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Omoregie
authors.affiliation: University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Department of Oral Pathology/Oral Medicine, PMB 1111 , Benin, Edo State, 300001 Nigeria.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akpata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
keywords: Benign; Malignant; Oral Health; Orofacial tumour; Paediatrics