Spectrum of Oral Lesions in A Tertiary Care Hospital.

AIM: The present study was undertaken to study the spectrum and pattern of various oral cavity lesions in a tertiary care hospital in Rohilkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, India.

BACKGROUND: Oral cavity is one of the most common sites for tumour and tumour like lesions especially in males. It has been observed that benign lesions are more common than malignant ones.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital during the period of two years from June 2012 to May 2014. The study included 133 cases of oral cavity lesions. The parameters included in the study were age, gender, site of the lesion and histopathological diagnosis. Special stains and Immunohistochemical markers were applied as and when required. Data collected were analysed.

RESULTS: A total of 133 cases were included in the present study. The age ranged from 8 to 80 years. Males were affected more often than females with a Male: Female ratio of 3.3:1. The most common involved site was tongue 39 (29.32%) followed by tonsil in 30 (22.56%), buccal mucosa 27(20.32%), floor of mouth 14 (10.53%), palate 12(9.02%), lower lip 8 (6.02%), upper lip 2(1.50%) and vestibule in 1 (0.75%) cases. Of the 133 cases, 63 cases (47.36%) were malignant, 52 non-neoplastic (39.10%) and 18 cases (13.53%) of benign neoplasias. The various lesions included - Squamous cell carcinoma, Verrucous carcinoma, Carcinoma-in-situ, Leukoplakia, Fibroma, Lipoma, Squamous cell papilloma, Lymphoid hyperplasia, Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, Haemangioma, Schwannoma, Atypical Pleomor -phic adenoma, Pleomorphic adenoma, Epidermal cyst, Retention cyst, Parasitic infestation, Tubercular pathology, Granulation tissue, Chronic Sialadenitis and Chronic non-specific inflammatory pathology. A larger epidemiopathological study in this region needs to be carried out for detailed statistical analysis.

CONCLUSION: Benign lesions were the predominant pathology. Squamous cell carcinoma was the commonest malignant lesion. Histopathological typing of the lesion is mandatory to confirm or rule out malignancy and is essential for the rational management thus avoiding mutilating surgery.