title: Retrospective evaluation of paediatric oral biopsies over a 10-year period in Western India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective study reviewed the paediatric oral biopsies received over 10 years at a teaching hospital and dental college in India. It is important that paediatric dentists know the diagnostic tendencies of oral pathological conditions in children, and possess updated information for their diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsies of patients 17 years of age or younger were selected. Computerised data regarding age, gender, anatomic location, and histopathological diagnosis was retrieved and classified into nine categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total 2959 oral biopsies, 359 cases (12.1%) were in the paediatric population with a slight male predominance. Salivary gland pathology (21.4%) was most frequently observed followed by dental pathology, maxillofacial tumours and maxillofacial cysts. More than a third of cases (35.9%) were found to occur in the mandible. Five cases of malignancies were found, two of which were salivary gland tumours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of lesions identified were of a benign nature necessitating minimal intervention; however, it is important to recognise that malignant lesions can occur in children. Any swelling, especially related to the salivary glands, must be investigated immediately, so as to prevent mortality and reduce morbidity. Diverse classifications used by previous authors make comparison of data challenging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paedodontics, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, India. snehapatil.bds@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Paedodontics, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, India.
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Kontham
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kontham
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chowdhery
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000473:pathology*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Biopsy; Oral diagnosis; Oral pathology; Paediatric