| dc.description.abstract | BACKGROUND: Pleomorphic salivary adenoma (PSA) is the commonest benign (mixed) tumor of salivary gland that presents as slow growing, painless, rubbery mass, in mouth or face. It may lead to difficult in swallowing, speaking, painful jaw, facial nerve paralysis etc. OBJECTIVES: To determine demographic characteristics of patients with PSA seen at Nairobi university dental hospital. METHODS: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in Nairobi university dental hospital that is situated in Nairobi city. Data was collected using a structured form from hospital records, which was centered on patient age, sex, residence, site/gland affected and recurrence. Data was collected from records, from January 1993 to December 2003 where forty-five cases of PSA were analyzed. RESULTS: Peak age at presentation for both males and females was between 20-30 years, while youngest patient presented at age of ten years. Age ranged from 10-68 years. 31(68.9%) females were found to have PSA, while 14(31.1%) were males. Female to male ratio of 2.2:1 was realized. No PSA was recorded in submandibular nor in sublingual glands. Low proportion of PSA of parotid (8.9%), minor salivary glands (13.3%) and a high proportion in palate (73.3%) were realized. Geographically PSA was seen more in central 15(34%), Nairobi 14(32%), Easter 11(24%), Nyanza 2(%), Western 2(4%), Rift-valley 1(2%), and North-eastern no case was reported. Recurrence rate of 2.2% was recorded. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study, it can be concluded that, females were more affected than males both with peak age of presentation at 2nd and 3rd decades of life. In females, palate was common site of PSA while in males was parotid. Central and Nairobi province population more affected by PSA, this could have been due to their proximity to Nairobi University Dental Hospital. Mild degree of recurrence of PSA was realized (2.2%). | en |
