The trend of ocular surface squamous neoplasia among ocular surface tumour biopsies submitted for histology from Sekuru Kaguvi Eye Unit, Harare between 1996 and 2000.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the trend in the prevalence of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) among ocular surface tumour biopsies submitted for histology from Sekuru Kaguvi Eye Unit (SKEU), Harare between January 1996 and August 2000.

DESIGN

The study was a retrospective records review of patients who had biopsies of ocular surface tumours done during the study period.

SETTING

National Referral Centre for eye patients (Sekuru Kaguvi Eye Unit), Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe.

SUBJECTS: A total of 1,587 records of patients who had ocular surface tumour biopsies performed were reviewed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Period prevalence of OSSN among ocular surface tumour biopsy specimens submitted for histology during the period under review.

RESULTS

The median age of patients with OSSN was significantly different from the median age of patients with other conjunctival tumours: 35 years (interquartile range [IQR] 25 to 47 years) versus 51 years (IQR 25 to 60 years), p < 0.0005 respectively. Four hundred and thirty out of 615 (70%) patients with OSSN were females. The overall period prevalence of OSSN was 615 of the total of 1,587 (38.8%). The annual prevalence of OSSN among ocular surface tumour biopsy specimens was found to be on the increase and ranged from 33% (115) in 1996 and 57.9% (165) during the year 2000. The Chi-squared test for trend analysis showed a significant upward linear trend (x2 = 27.4, p < 0.004). Fifty three percent of the tumours were OSSN, 42% were pterygium and 5% were pyogenic granulomas of the conjunctiva.

CONCLUSION

OSSN is the commonest tumour of the ocular surface whose primary site is the conjunctiva. Its prevalence in Zimbabwe is on the increase and it has a predilection for females over males. Further studies on the natural history, treatment and patient profile would pave a way to better quality of patient care and establish its association with HIV/AIDS.