A retrospective 21-year study of tumoral lip lesions

Abstract

Lips are the location of more than 27.5% of oral lesions due to their anatomical location and constant exposure to irritating factors. The aim of the present work was to carry out a study of lip neoplasms diagnosed in an oral histopathology laboratory. This is a cross-sectional study based on secondary data of lip neoplasms diagnosed in a histopathology service between January 2000 and December 2021. 109 cases (7.6% of the total) were analyzed. The average evolution time was 26.55 months. Excisional biopsy was more frequent in 52 cases (47.7%). Males were affected in 63 cases (57.8%). The mean age was 47.07 years. Benign neoplasms were more frequent in 71 cases (65.1%), the lower lip was the main site of occurrence, with 61 cases (56%). Papilloma accounted for 33 cases (30.3%), oral squamous cell carcinoma for 32 cases (29.4%) and pleomorphic adenoma for 12 cases (11%). In 81 cases (74.3%), there was agreement between clinical diagnosis and histopathological findings. Benign neoplasms are more frequent than malignant ones, with higher incidence in males and in patients over the 5^th decade of life. The most common location was the lower lip and oral squamous cell carcinoma accounted for most malignant neoplasms.