A multicenter study of malignant oral and maxillofacial lesions in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the frequency of malignant oral and maxillofacial lesions among children and adolescents from representative geographic regions of Brazil.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on biopsies obtained from 1990 to 2016 at six Brazilian oral and maxillofacial pathology referral centers. A total of 85,105 biopsy specimens from children and adolescents were analyzed. Gender, age, anatomical location, symptomatology and histopathological diagnosis were evaluated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight (0.06%) malignant oral and maxillofacial lesions were diagnosed in children (19%) and adolescents (81%). The lesions were more frequent among females (60.3%) and adolescents. The most prevalent lesions were mucoepidermoid carcinomas (22.4%), osteosarcomas (13.8%), squamous cell carcinomas (12.1%), and Burkitt's lymphomas (12.1%). The most commonly affected sites were the palate (19%), mandible (13.8%), and maxilla (13.8%). Almost half the patients were asymptomatic.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric oral and maxillofacial malignant lesions were infrequent and showed wide diversity, with a prevalence of mucoepidermoid carcinomas. Analysis of malignant lesions in children and adolescents helps pediatric dentists and oncologists to obtain a better understanding of such lesions and to reduce the time for diagnosis, with a consequent improvement of prognosis.