Oral histopathological diagnosis: A 6-year audit at a tertiary hospital in Gombe, North-East Nigeria

Background: Tissue biopsy is an established method of diagnosis which helps in establishing the various types of lesions. However, contrasting findings may exist depending on facility, personnel available, and geographical region. Aim: To carry out a six-year audit of oral lesions diagnosed through histopathology in our institution. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective review of all histopathologically diagnosed oral lesions within a six-year period. Information retrieved from the patients' record and analyzed were age, sex, occupation, site, and histological diagnosis. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were presented. Results: Two hundred and forty-two oral biopsies consisting of 130 females and 112 males were performed during the study period. Patients age ranged from 1 to 82 years with a mean of 30.2 ± 17.6 years. Lesions were mostly located on the mandible and were mainly benign in nature. The most common benign lesion was ameloblastoma, whereas the most common malignant lesion was squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion: The prevalence and pattern of presentation of oral lesions in our center are similar to the previous reports from Nigeria and other parts of the world. There is a need to increase the awareness about oral health and availability of oral histopathological services in our center to improve utilization.