Pattern of orbito-oculo-adnexal tumours and their association with HIV status as seen at two major Hospitals in Kenya

Abstract

A cross sectional study was carried out from April 2000 to February 2001 at Kenyatta National Hospital and Kikuyu Eye Unit, Nairobi, Kenya to study the pattern of Orbito-Oculo-Adnexal tumours and their association with HIV status. One hundred and five patients were examined. There were 51 males and 54 females. The mean age was 29.9 years (range l.08 to 75 years). Thirty-eight (36.2%)patients had Benign tumours. Sixty-seven (63.8%) had premalignant and malignant tumours. Thirty¬four (32.4%) patients were HIV seropositive detected by Elisa. Seventy-one (67.6%) patients were HIV seronegative. Out of thirty-four seropositives, seventeen patients (50%) had Squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva, fourteen (41.2%) patients had Pterygium with Squamous cell dysplasia, Two (5.91 %) were Kaposis sarcoma and one (2.91 %) was case of Pterygium. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma and pterygium with squamous cell dysplasia were in younger age group (range:20-75years), with peak frequency between 31-40 years. Duration of symptoms varied approximately from 2 weeks to 5 years. However from the duration of signs and symptoms it was noted that tumour growth was rapid and more aggressive in HIV seropositive patients.Only three (8.8%) patients had systemic manifestations of AIDS. There was 51 % association of pterygium (elastosis) in squamous cell carcinoma lesions. There is statistically significant association between squamous cell carcinoma, pterygium with squamous dysplasia and HIV (66%) i.e. p-value <0.001 %. Association between HIV status and the rest of the tumours studied could not be calculated since their figures were not adequate.