title: Retrospective analysis of benign orofacial tumors at a tertiary referral center in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to analyze the prevalence of benign tumors of the orofacial region at a tertiary referral center in the south-western region of Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases from 2009 to 2014 were retrieved from October 2014 to June 2015 from the archives of the histopathology department of the center. Demographic and clinical details of the patients were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 714 oral and maxillofacial biopsy specimens, 78 (10.9%) were benign tumors. The mean age and range were 34.6±19.8 and 3-85 year, respectively. Sex distribution was equal. Most tumors were mesenchymal (34.6%), followed by epithelial (26.9%), odontogenic (20.5%), and salivary gland tumors (17.9%). Squamous cell papilloma (20.5%) was the most common, followed by pleomorphic adenoma (15.4%) and fibrous tumors (15.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low prevalence of benign orofacial tumors found in this study indicates a lack of awareness of the importance of taking biopsy for such lesions. The information reported here emphasizes the need for biopsy investigation for all oral lesions to ascertain appropriate diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nandimandalam Venkata
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Vani
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ali M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Idris
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sanaa M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.|Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Faisal M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Tubaigy
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.|Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fahd A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Alharbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King Fahad Central Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abubakr A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sharwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology Laboratory, King Fahad Central Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tadrus
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, King's College Dental Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: Saman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Warnakulasuriya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Benign odontogenic tumors; Jazan; Saudi Arabia.; benign orofacial tumors; oral squamous papilloma; prevalence