A study of histopathological variants of orofacial llpoma in a Nigerian population

Objective: The rarity of llpoma In the orofacial region has made It difficult to ascertain the dinlcopathological pattern of orofadal lipoma in our environment. This study alms to determine the age, gender, sites and histopathological variants of orofadal llpoma In a Nigerian population. Method: A 21-year retrospective review was performed on patients' dlnlcal notes, histopathology slides and reports of all histopathologically diagnosed orofacial lesions in the Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Result: Of the 1116 diagnosed lesions within the study period, there were 15 (1.3%) cases of lipoma. There was a female to male ratio of 2: 1, with a mean age of 31±1.2 years and the peak age group was the 4111 decade of life (n=6, 40.0%). The buccal mucosa (n=B, 53.3%) and the forehead (n =4, 26. 7%) were the commonest orofacial sites of the lesion. The  conventional llpoma (n=B, 53.3%) was the predominant lesion, followed by angiolipoma (n=3, 20.0%), flbrollpoma (n= 2, 13.3%), spindle cell llpoma (n= 1, 6. 7%) and Intramuscular llpoma (n= 1, 6. 7%). Conclusion: This study revealed a low prevalence of orofacial lipoma comparable to previous report. The lesion occurred predominantly In adult females and the buccal mucosa was the commonest orofacial site. Apart from the conventional lipoma. angiolipoma was the second most frequent hlstopathological variant of the lesion. Early surgical Intervention andhistopathological evaluation of clinically suspicious cases of orofacial lipoma is recommended, to avoid facial disfigurement and to rule out a malignant lesion mimicking the benign type.