Orofacial tumours and tumour-like lesions in children treated at Muhimbili N ational Hospital, Tanzania

Introduction: Orofacial tumours and tumour-like lesions occur at any age. An increasing occurrence has made these tumours a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children.Objective: To determine the clinicopathological characteristics and  treatment modalities of orofacial tumours and tumourlike lesions in children at Muhimbili National Hospital.Methods: Children aged below 18 years with orofacial tumours and tumour-like lesions were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and clinically examined. The data were analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Statistical significance was considered at a p-value of < 0.05.Results: 121 children aged 4 days to 17 years (mean= 8.56 years ±5.5 SD), 52.1 % being male, participated in the study. The age groups 0-5 years (38%) and 11-15 years (28.1%) were most affected- p-value 0.38. The majority (86%) of the lesions were benign; haemangioma was the most (16.4%) common benign tumour. Dentigerous cyst was the most (7.8%) frequent tumour-like lesion observed, while Burkitt’s lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma were the most common malignant lesions.  Swelling was the most common clinical feature in all tumours and tumour-like lesions and surgery was the most common treatment.Conclusion: Benign orofacial tumours and tumour-like lesions were the types most commonly seen among children in Tanzania.Key words: orofacial, tumours, tumour-like lesions, children, Tanzania

Human bite injuries in the oro-facial region at the Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human bites in the maxillofacial region compromise function and aesthetics, resulting in social and psychological effects. There is paucity of information regarding human bite injuries in Tanzania. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence, treatment modalities and prognosis of human bite injuries in the oro-facial region at the Muhimbili National Hospital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a prospective study the details of patients with human bite injuries in the oro-facial region who attended at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Muhimbili National Hospital between January 2001 and December 2005 were recorded. Data included information on age, sex, site, duration of the injury at the time of reporting to hospital, reasons, details of treatment offered and outcome after treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 33 patients, 13 males and 20 females aged between 12 and 49 years with human bite injuries in the oro-facial region were treated. Thirty patients presented with clean uninfected wounds while 3 had infected wounds. The most (45.5%) frequently affected site was the lower lip. Treatment offered included thorough surgical cleansing with adequate surgical debridement and primary suturing. Tetanus prophylaxis and a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics were given to all the patients. In 90% of the 30 patients who were treated by suturing, the healing was uneventful with only 10% experiencing wound infection or necrosis. Three patients who presented with wounds that had signs of infection were treated by surgical cleansing with debridement, antibiotics and daily dressing followed by delayed primary suturing.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Most of the human bite injuries in the oro-facial region were due to social conflicts. Although generally considered to be dirty or contaminated they could be successfully treated by surgical cleansing and primary suture with a favourable outcome. Management of such injuries often need multidisciplinary approach.</p

Oral maxillofacial neoplasms in an East African population a 10 year retrospective study of 1863 cases using histopathological reports

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neoplasms of the oral maxillofacial area are an interesting entity characterized by differences in nomenclature and classification at different centers.</p> <p>We report neoplastic histopathological diagnoses seen at the departments of oral maxillofacial surgery of Muhimbili and Mulago referral hospitals in Tanzania and Uganda respectively over a 10-year period.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrieved histopathological reports archived at the departments of oral maxillofacial surgery of Muhimbili and Mulago referral hospitals in Tanzania and Uganda respectively over a 10-year period from June 1989–July 1999.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the period between June 1989 and July 1999, 565 and 1298 neoplastic oro-facial cases were retrieved of which 284 (50.53%) and 967 (74.54%) were malignant neoplasms at Muhimbili and Mulago hospitals respectively. Overall 67.28% of the diagnoses recorded were malignant with Kaposi's sarcoma (21.98%), Burkiits lymphoma (20.45%), and squamous cell carcinoma (15.22%) dominating that group while ameloblastoma (9.23%), fibromas (7.3%) and pleomorphic adenoma (4.95%) dominated the benign group.</p> <p>The high frequency of malignancies could be due to inclusion criteria and the clinical practice of selective histopathology investigation. However, it may also be due to higher chances of referrals in case of malignancies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There is need to reexamine the slides in these two centers in order to bring them in line with the most recent WHO classification so as to allow for comparison with reports from else where.</p

Patient with human bite injury of the tongue immediately after primary suture

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Human bite injuries in the oro-facial region at the Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6831/8/12</p><p>BMC Oral Health 2008;8():12-12.</p><p>Published online 30 Apr 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2397395.</p><p></p