ABSTRACT

Background: Head and neck tumours (HNTs) represent a significant global health burden, with marked geographical variations in incidence and histological patterns. While malignant lesions, particularly squamous cell carcinoma, have been widely studied, benign conditions such as adenotonsillar hypertrophy remain underreported despite their clinical relevance. This study aimed to characterise the epidemiological and clinicopathological profile of HNTs at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Nigeria, and compare findings with regional and global trends.
Methods: A 10-year retrospective review (2013–2022) was conducted at the ENT Department of UATH. Data were extracted from patient records, including demographics, clinical presentation, histopathological diagnoses, risk factors, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise categorical and continuous variables, while Chi-square tests assessed associations between variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Of 337 patients analysed, 62.9% had benign lesions, while 6.2% were malignant. Males predominated (55.5%), and the mean age was 11.6 ± 16.7 years (47.2 ± 17.2 for malignant cases). Carcinomas (5.6%) were the most common malignancy, while adenotonsillectomy (66.8%) was the leading surgical intervention. Risk factor documentation was low (tobacco: 0.3%; alcohol: 2.1%). Notably, higher education levels correlated with malignancy (p = 0.0015). Late presentation was common, with 28.5% attributing delays to prior treatment at other clinics.
Conclusion: Benign HNTs were more prevalent than malignancies in this cohort. The predominance of late-stage presentations underscores systemic healthcare access challenges. The unexpected association between higher education and malignancy warrants further investigation. These findings highlight the need for enhanced diagnostic capacity, public awareness, and tailored interventions to improve HNT management in resource-limited settings.

KEYWORDS

Head and neck tumours, epidemiology, histopathology, Nigeria.

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