Orofacial Tumours at the Oral and Maxillofacial Unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital: A 2‐Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Orofacial tumours represent a significant health challenge in Ghana impacting functions and quality of life. Despite their importance, there is a dearth in literature on the epidemiological patterns of these neoplasms in Ghana. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by investigating their characteristics at a major teaching hospital in Ghana. Methods A retrospective, cross‐sectional study was conducted on 204 patients with consecutive sampling. Data were retrieved from the Lightwave Health Information Management System. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Chi‐square tests were performed to assess associations between age, gender and tumour type. Results The study included 204 patients with a mean age of 40.24 ± 22.268 years. There was a slight female predominance (51.0%) with a male‐to‐female ratio of 1:1.04. Benign tumours (59.8%) were more prevalent than the malignant ones (40.2%). The highest incidence of orofacial tumours was observed in the 5th decade of life (16.7%). The mandible was the commonest site of tumour occurrence (18%), followed by the tongue (12%). A significant association was found between age and tumour type ( p < 0.001), with benign tumours more common in younger age groups (peak in 31–40 years, 18.9%) and malignant tumours more prevalent in older individuals (peak in 61–70 years, 24.4%). Conclusions This study provides valuable insights into the epidemiology of orofacial tumours in Ghana, highlighting the importance of age‐specific screening and early detection strategies. The findings contribute to the understanding of orofacial tumour patterns in Ghana and underscore the need for further research to elucidate underlying factors contributing to these patterns.