An analysis of oral and maxillofacial pathology found in children over a 30-year period

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

Most lesions were inflammatory or benign, but 0.7% were malignant.

Main

Jones AV, Franklin CD Int J Paediatr Dent 2006; 16: 19–30

This is the first reported survey of paediatric oral and maxillofacial pathological specimens from a European country. Over a 30 yr period in Sheffield Dental School, 4406 specimens were received from patients aged up to 16 yrs old. These constituted 8.2% of all specimens. In the dental pathology group there were 22% of specimens, salivary gland pathology accounted for 19%, mucosal pathology 12%, odontogenic cysts 12%, gingival and periodontal pathology 10%, and other conditions accounted for the remainder. There were 114 benign nonodontogenic tumours, 43 odontogenic and 31 malignant tumours including 6 of salivary gland origin. These 6 accounted for half of all salivary tumour specimens, the others being pleomorphic adenomata.

The authors list in detail the lesions diagnosed, and comment that numerous dental pathological specimens will not have been submitted for examination. The information provided with specimens was frequently limited, and 2.4% had insufficient for accurate diagnosis. The commonest diagnoses were mucous extravasation cyst (735 cases) and periapical granuloma (332).