Neurogenic Tumors of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region in a Nigerian Population.

BACKGROUND

Neurogenic tumors constitute a group of true and pseudo-tumors arising from tissues derived from embryonic neural crest cells. They are rare in the maxillofacial region.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the demographic, clinical presentation and histopathological spectrum of neurogenic tumors of the oral and maxillofacial region seen over a 28-year period.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A retrospective observational study which highlighted the demographic, clinical presentation and histopathological spectrum of neurogenic tumors of the oral and maxillofacial region seen between 1992 and 2020 in a tertiary health facility.

RESULTS

A total of 56 patients were studied with a male to female ratio of 1:1.5 and the age spanned from 1 to 72 years (mean of 26.2 ± 17.9 yrs). The commonly involved sites were the cheek (n = 9; 16.0%), scalp (n = 9; 16.0%) and eyelid (n = 6; 10.7%). Histopathological data showed a preponderance (n = 38; 67.9%) of neurofibroma over other types of neurogenic tumors. The treatment modalities used were surgical (n = 37; 94.9%) and oncological (n = 2; 5.1%). Complications noted were recurrence in 2 patients and hypertrophic scar formation in 1 patient.

CONCLUSION

In this environment, orofacial neurogenic tumors appear to be common in the second decade of life, affect the extraoral structures mainly and the most common form is neurofibroma.