Prevalence and Types of Facial Swellings Managed at Specialist Hospital Yola, Adamawa State

Facial swellings encompass a broad clinical spectrum ranging from acute infectious processes to benign and malignant neoplasms. In the North East geopolitical zone, limited diagnostic infrastructure and delayed care-seeking behaviors influence both the type and severity of facial swellings that present to specialist facilities. This retrospective descriptive study reviews the prevalence, clinical characteristics, etiological categories, and management of facial swellings among patients attending the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery unit at Specialist Hospital Yola, Adamawa State, over a five-year period from 2019 to 2023. A total of 162 patients were identified from clinical registers and theatre records. Cases were categorized as inflammatory, neoplastic, cystic, traumatic, or congenital. Results indicate that inflammatory swellings, predominantly of odontogenic origin, accounted for 58.6% of all presentations. Benign neoplasms, including salivary gland tumors and fibromatous lesions, constituted 24.1% of cases. Malignant tumors were diagnosed in 9.3% of patients, most presenting at advanced stages. Congenital lesions including ranulas and thyroglossal duct cysts accounted for the remaining cases. Management included surgical drainage, excision, and in malignant cases, referral for oncology services. The study highlights the predominance of preventable infections in the case mix and recommends community oral health programs targeting underserved communities in Adamawa State. Keywords: facial swellings, odontogenic infection, Yola, Adamawa, North East Nigeria.