Maxillofacial sequelae as a function of treatment type and histology in benign jaw tumors

The main treatment option for benign jaw tumors is surgery. Maxillofacial sequalae are complications in the head and neck region related to pathologies and/or the treatment of these pathologies, including benign jaw tumors. Our aim was to describe and compare the sequalae in patients operated upon for a benign jaw tumor as a function of the type of surgery and the histology.

We carried out a cross-sectional analytic study in the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the Yaoundé Central Hospital. Any patient who had undergone surgery for a benign tumor at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the Yaoundé Central Hospital presenting histological evidence was included in our study. Patients lost to follow-up, deceased and patients who did not give their consent were excluded. Additionally, we used the 2022 WHO (World Health Organization) classification of head and neck tumors for our histological diagnosis.

We retained 39 patients in our study with a sex ratio of 0.69 and an age range from 14 to 71 years. The mean age was 36.18 ± 15.38 years. With respect to the tumor location in our patients, the majority were on the right side (56.4%) and on the mandible (79.5%). The size of the lesions varied, with the majority being 4-10 cm (58.9%).

Altered mastication, impaired swallowing, slurred speech, nerve damage, malocclusion and mouth opening kinematics are the functional sequelae that have a significant association with surgical type in our study. Also, facial asymmetry, atrophy, mandibular deviation and the presence of a scar are the aesthetic sequelae that have a significant association with surgical type in our study. Regarding the histological diagnosis, ameloblastoma showed a significant association with the aesthetic and functional sequalae in our study.