Clinicopathologic Trends in Pediatric Oral Biopsies: A 10-Year Institutional Archival Study

The aim of this study is to determine the clinicopathologic trends in oral pathological biopsies in children aged 14 years and below received for histopathological diagnosis in the institution.

The archives of the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology were retrospectively analyzed. Biopsy records of all oral lesions from pediatric patients, aged 0-14 years, in the files of the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, DK, from 2007 to 2017 were considered. Descriptive statistical analysis and Pearson's Chi-square test using computer software were performed.

About 3,590 biopsies were received during the period of which 93 (2.6%) belonged to pediatric population. Prevalence was more in males (58%) compared to females (42%). Commonly affected age group was 10-14 years. The most common category of lesions diagnosed was cysts, and pulp pathologies were the least. The most common location was the jaws of which mandible was more common compared to maxilla followed by the lower lip and buccal mucosa. Histopathologically, radicular cysts (11%) were the most common followed by equal frequency of dentigerous cysts, mucoceles, and odontomes (9%). A statistically significant association of age and gender was seen with the category of the lesion.

This study shows a blend of similarities and contradictions as compared to other similar studies, which could be attributed to geographical diversity, and a number of biopsies received each year which needs to be further explored.