Objective: To present the clinical spectrum of malignant neoplasms detected after extraction of teeth.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Main outcome measures: Demographic and clinical data of patients diagnosed with malignant neoplasms related to a history of tooth extraction.
Results: Twelve patients with histopathologically confirmed tumours detected after extraction of teeth were studied. There were 11 males and one female giving a male to female ratio of 11:1. They ranged in age from 15-85 years with a mean age of 53 years. Pain and swelling were the most common presenting complaints. The mandible was more often involved seven (58.3%) cases while five (41.7%) cases occurred in the maxilla. Squamous cell carcinoma (in 9 cases) was the most common malignant neoplasm among these patients.
Conclusion: Malignant tumours can mimic periapical infections necessitating a high index of suspicion when faced with toothache of uncertain cause.