ORIGINAL: Neurogenic Tumors of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region in a Nigerian Population

West Afr J Med . 2022 Jun 24;39(6):628-634

Abstract

Background: Neurogenic tumors constitute a group of true and pseudo-tumors arising from tissues derived from embryonic neural crest cells. They are rare in the maxillofacial region.

Objectives: To analyze the demographic, clinical presentation and histopathological spectrum of neurogenic tumors of the oral and maxillofacial region seen over a 28-year period.

Material and methods: A retrospective observational study which highlighted the demographic, clinical presentation and histopathological spectrum of neurogenic tumors of the oral and maxillofacial region seen between 1992 and 2020 in a tertiary health facility.

Results: A total of 56 patients were studied with a male to female ratio of 1:1.5 and the age spanned from 1 to 72 years (mean of 26.2 ± 17.9 yrs). The commonly involved sites were the cheek (n = 9; 16.0%), scalp (n = 9; 16.0%) and eyelid (n = 6; 10.7%). Histopathological data showed a preponderance (n = 38; 67.9%) of neurofibroma over other types of neurogenic tumors. The treatment modalities used were surgical (n = 37; 94.9%) and oncological (n = 2; 5.1%). Complications noted were recurrence in 2 patients and hypertrophic scar formation in 1 patient.

Conclusion: In this environment, orofacial neurogenic tumors appear to be common in the second decade of life, affect the extraoral structures mainly and the most common form is neurofibroma

Authors

R Agbara 1, B Fomete 2, K U Omeje 3