OROFACIAL BIOPSIES IN PORT HARCOURT: A Review of 532 Cases seen over a 12-Year Period

Orofacial Biopsies in Port Harcourt

Abstract

Background 
Knowledge of the prevalence and distribution of orofacial lesions in 
a specific geographic region is important in diagnosis and treatment 
planning. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and 
distribution of biopsied orofacial lesions in Port Harcourt.  
Methods 
This retrospective study reviewed orofacial histopathology reports 
over 12 years, with data extracted from the histopathology reports. 
Lesions were categorized into non-neoplastic and neoplastic. The 
non-neoplastic lesions were grouped into inflammatory/reactive, 
cystic, and others, while the neoplastic lesions were divided into 
benign and malignant. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 
23. p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. 
Results 
A total of 566 orofacial biopsies were done during the period under 
review, of which 532 were analyzed. Non-neoplastic lesions 
accounted for 39.5%, and most of them were reactive/inflammatory 
lesions (62.9%). The mean age was 27.7 ± 17.1 years, and they 
were more common in the third decade, in females (57.6%), and in 
the mandible (29.0%). The most common non-neoplastic lesions 
were dentigerous cyst (8.1%) and pyogenic granuloma (7.9%).

Neoplastic lesions accounted for 60.5% of orofacial biopsies, with a 
mean age of 34.9 ± 19.8 years, and a peak from the 2nd to 4th 
decades of life. They were more common in females (53.1%) and in 
the mandible (40.1%). Benign lesions (69.9%) were more common 
than malignant lesions. The most common benign odontogenic 
lesion was ameloblastoma (18.6%), whereas fibroma (4.5%) was 
the most common benign non-odontogenic lesion. Of the malignant 
lesions, carcinomas were by far the most frequent (68.0%), with 
squamous cell carcinoma (5.3%) being the most common.  
Conclusion 
Orofacial biopsies in Port Harcourt consist mainly of neoplastic 
lesions, with the most frequent lesions being ameloblastoma, 
dentigerous cyst, pyogenic granuloma and squamous cell 
carcinoma.