Oral tumors in children: a review

The objective of this study was to present an analysis of the incidence and diagnosis of 172 oral tumors in Jordanian children and adolescents. During the period of evaluation, 1605 patients with oral cavity tumors were seen. Of which 172 (11%) were in children under 18 years, who were treated after histopathological confirmation of the diagnosis during the 18 years 1980-1998. Diagnosis, incidence and age at presentation were the main outcome measures, and the results showed that 156 patients (91%) had benign tumors and 16 patients (9%) were malignant. The most common benign tumor was haemangioma 24 (14%), and the most common malignant tumor was sarcoma 15 (8.5%). The most common odontogenic tumor was odontoma 35 (20%), and non-odontogenic tumor, ossifying fibroma 4 (2%). The most common site of soft tissue tumors was the lip 25 (14.5%), and of bony tumors the mandible 43 (25%). About 40% of the tumors developed in patients between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Most of the hemangiomas and lymphangiomas developed in patients less than 6 years old, and most of the ameloblastomas in those over 12 years of age. These data are important to assess geographical differences in the incidence of lesions and to all clinicians to make realistic judgments in counseling patients before biopsy about the probability of diagnosis. Most of these lesions were probably developmental malformations rather than neoplasms.