Association of Surgeons of East Africa and College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa
Doi
Abstract
Background: Birthmarks sometimes represent significant vascular
anomalies that require diagnosis and treatment. This study was aimed at
determining the demographic and clinical pattern of vascular lesions
seen among patients attending The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical
Clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional
descriptive study was done at Muhimbili National Hospital between 2008
and 2011. The study population consisted of patients attending the Oral
and Maxillofacial Surgical unit with histologically/cytologically
confirmed vascular lesions. Clinical and demographic data of these
patients were recorded and analyzed. Results: Study consisted of 33
patients. The male to female sex ratio was 1: 1.1. The ages ranged from
1 month to 56 years with a mean of 9.4 years. The age group 0-9 years
was the most commonly affected. Haemangioma was the commonest vascular
lesion found in 19(57.6%) followed by lymphangioma in 12(36.4%). Cystic
hygroma and syndromic vascular lesions were found less frequently.
Females were slightly more affected with haemangioma compared to males
while lymphangioma affected both sexes equally. Most haemangiomas
14(73.7%) presented after birth while most lymphangiomas 9(75%)
presented at birth. The cheek and upper lip were the commonest sites
affected in 11(33.3%) and 10(30.3%) respectively. The commonest
location for haemangiomas were the cheek 7(21.2) and upper lip
5(15.2%). Lymphangiomas were commonly located on the upper lip 5(15.2%)
followed by the cheek 4(12.1%). Conclusion: The Findings in our
review concurred with previous studies on vascular lesions but differed
on fact that haemangiomas were the commonest vascular lesion in the
head and neck area instead of lymphangioma. This calls for a large
multicentre study to confirm this finding