A clinicopathologic analysis of epulides from a subpopulation of Northern Nigeria

Context: Epulides are common oral lesions of the gingivae. Descriptive studies on epulides from a previously unreported Nigerian population are desirable. Aims: The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics of epulides from a subpopulation in the Northern Nigerian state of Sokoto. Settings and Design: This is a retrospective study of patients histologically diagnosed with epulis and treated at the Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital. Methods: A 10-year (2007–2017) review of histologically diagnosed oral and maxillofacial lesion was used for this study. Data on age, gender, site and histological diagnosis were retrieved from the hospital records and classified into two groups: fibrous lesions and haemorrhagic lesions, reflecting their clinical presentations. Statistical Analysis Done: Data were summarised using frequency distribution and mean and standard deviation (SD). Comparisons were done with Chi-square test and t-test. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: A total number of 28 gingival epulides out of a total of 644 lesions that were diagnosed were included in the study. Epulis consisted of 15 (53.6%) fibrous epulides and 13 (46.4%) vascular epulides. There were 20 (71.4%) females and 8 (28.6%) males (female:male = 2.5:1). The average age of study participants was 29.4 years ± 16.4 SD. The mean age of fibrous epulides was 22.73 ± 14.7 years, which was significantly lower than the mean age of vascular epulides (37.1 ± 15.4) (P = 0.018). The most common epulides observed were pyogenic granuloma (PG), (35.7%) followed by fibroepithelial hyperplasia (14.3%) and peripheral ossifying fibroma (10.7%). Conclusions: The most common epulis in this study was PG. It is desirable for the clinician to have a good knowledge of the frequency and distribution of epulides when establishing a diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan.