Histopathological Pattern of Orbito Ocular Malignancy in a Teaching Hospital in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: There is variation in the prevalence of orbitoocular malignancies in different parts of the world. Information on the frequency and pattern of orbito-ocular tumours in Benin City is scanty.
Objective: To study the frequencies and histopathological spectrum of orbito-ocular malignancies in a teaching hospital in the southern part of Nigeria.
Methods: The case records of all malignant orbito-ocular malignancies diagnosed during a10 year period, from 2002 through to 2011 were taken for the study. The clinical and histopathological details were noted. These were compared to reports from the rest ofNigeria and other countries.
Results: A total number of 105orbito - ocular lesions were diagnosed during the study period. Malignant tumours of the eye accounted for 33 (31.4%) of all ocular biopsies/samples and 1% of all malignancies. The age range was between 1 and 80 years.Squamous cell carcinoma (n=12) and retinoblastoma (n=12) accounted formajority (76%) of all the orbito-occular malignancies. While 99.7% of retinoblastoma occurred in children less than 9 years of age, 66.7% of squamous cell carcinoma occurred in people between the age range 20 and 39 years. Malignant melanoma accounted for 3(9.1%) of the cases and it was the third major type of orbito-ocular neoplasm. Squamous cell carcinoma affected males and females equally. There was a slight female preponderance in retinoblastoma with a F : M ratio of 1.4:1. Malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma insitu, lymphoma and rhabdomyosarcoma were found in males only.Lesions affecting the eyeball were 54.5%, while lesions of the conjunctiva accounted for 36.4%, eyelid 6.1% and orbit 1%.
Conclusion: In conclusion, orbito-ocular malignancies are rare and squamous cell carcinoma and retinoblastoma are the commonest orbito-ocular malignancies in Benin City, Nigeria.

Keywords:orbito-ocular, malignancy, retinoblastoma, melanoma, eyeball