Primary Childhood Head and Neck Neoplasms: an 8-Year Histopathological Review in a Teaching Hospital

ABSTRACT

Background: Although infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death among children in our environment; neoplastic diseases have emerged as important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Method: A retrospective review of neoplastic lesions of the head and neck region histologically diagnosed at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in children aged 0-14years between 2002 and 2009 was carried out with the aim of determining their incidence and histological patterns. Results: A total of 266 neoplasms were diagnosed in this age group during the period out of hich123(46.2) were located in the head and neck region. Seventy two cases (58.5) were malignant while 51 (41.5) were benign. Lymphoma was the commonest histological type of malignant tumour (51) with Burkitt's lymphoma being the predominant subtype. The commonest benign tumours were haemangioma and neurofibroma each of which accounted for 8 cases (15.7). The commonest sites for these lesions were jaw; eye and adnexa; soft tissues; peripheral nerves; and lymph nodes. Conclusion: It is concluded that Burkitt's lymphoma remains the commonest childhood head and neck malignancy in the study population. The oral sites constituted about 40of the tumours studied