Method: We reviewed the clinic log book of the radiotherapy department to obtain information on the biodata, site and histology of lesions, the treatment intent and the timing of treatment for patients that required radiation therapy for malignant orofacial lesions.
Frequency distributions of variables and statistical comparisons were conducted to determine the age distribution, commonest types and sites of lesion as well as association between these variables, treatment intent and timing of treatment.
Result: A total of 171 patients were treated including 93(54.4%) males and 78(45.6%) females. Most of the patients presented within the age bracket of 31 to 70 years with relatively fewer patients at the extremes of age. The maxilla (91), parotid gland (65), palate (27) and mandible (22) were the common sites affected. Squamous cell carcinoma constituted the highest frequency of the lesions(112) followed by adenocystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma, accounting for 11 cases each. One hundred and one cases (39.3%) were underwent palliative therapy while 70 (27.2%) had curative therapy. The treatment intent was not documented for 86 (33.5%). There was significant likelihood for older patients to undergo palliative therapy (p= 0.046). Eighty five (33.1%) patients underwent post-operative irradiation irrespective of the histological type of the lesion. Only 5 (0.03%) patients had radiotherapy as the sole treatment for their disease.
Conclusion: Our findings support the established fact of male preponderance in orofacial cancer as well as higher prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma. There appeared to be a preference for post-operative irradiation and likelihood of palliative treatment for older patients. Unavailability of records on tumour staging and treatment outcome are shortcomings.