Clinicopathological characteristics of benign soft tissue lesions of the oro-maxillofacial region: a 10-year retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Benign soft tissue lesions of the oro-maxillofacial region feature diverse clinical presentations that often overlap, making histopathological validation essential. This study evaluated the demographic, anatomical, and clinicopathological characteristics of these lesions over 10 years, focusing on associations between diagnosis and anatomical site.

Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed 170 patients diagnosed between January 2014 and December 2023. Patient age, sex, lesion location, histopathological diagnosis, epithelial lining, histomorphological features, and inflammatory status were collected from medical and pathology records. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests via IBM SPSS v26.0 (α= 0.05).

Results: The mean patient age was 49.3 years, predominantly impacting individuals over 40, with a slight female predominance (55.9%). The most frequent anatomical locations were the labial, buccal, parotid, and cervical regions. Nevus, fibroma, epidermoid cyst, mucocele, and lipoma were the primary diagnoses. Stratified squamous epithelium was the predominant lining, and inflammatory infiltrate was present in 48.2% of cases. A highly significant association was confirmed between histopathological diagnosis and anatomical location (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Benign oro-maxillofacial cysts and soft tissue lesions exhibit distinct clinicopathological and topographic patterns. Recognizing these site-specific associations enhances diagnostic accuracy and management planning, though further multicenter prospective verification is recommended.