In the present study, 2, 807 surgical specimens which were derived from the hospital attached to Okayama University Dental School during a 6 years period from 1982 to 1988 could be analyzed in a variety of ways. Also, 349 biopsy specimens taken in personal dental clinics by dentists during 4 years period from could be analyzed.
2, 807 specimens in the hospital attached to our dental school were composed of 2, 224 specimens (2, 022 patients) for histopathological diagnosis, 52 specimens for frozen-section examination, and 531 specimens for cytological diagnosis. Almost 60% of oral pathologic conditions were represented by cysts, and about 30% were tumors. While inflammatory and cystic lesions composed the largest group of all oral biopsy specimens, the second most common oral lesion was squamous cell carcinoma. About 60% of all oral tumors were benign and about 40% were malignant. Of 230 patients with malignant tumors, the majority were squamous cell carcinoma (184 patients, 80%), followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma, malignant lymphoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
Almost 70% of 349 biopsy specimens that were taken in personal dental clinics by dentists were radicular cysts, and dental granuloma. Although malignant tumors were extremely rare in dental clinics, it appears that the dentists in dental clinics must take a greater role in the total care of the oral cavity.