Pattern of ophthalmic lesions at two histopathology centres in Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: To describe the distribution of ocular, orbital and eyelid lesions that required histopathologic analysis in Ethiopian children and adults. Design: A retrospective study. Setting: Tikur Anbessa and Menelik II Teaching hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during 1995 and 1999 period. Results: Two hundred and ninety ophthalmic specimens were examined, 20% of which came from children. Half of the lesions had epithelial origin, about 30% were malignant, 22.6% were benign and 16.4% were potentially malignant. Squamous cell carcinoma was the leading conjunctival (26%), eyelid (33%), orbital (33%) and ocular (20%) lesion among adults and elderly people whereas only 6% of eyelid lesion were basal cell carcinomas. In children the most frequent intra-ocular as well as orbital tumour was retinoblastoma, 39%, followed by miscellaneous benign lesions (24%). More than half of the request forms were incomplete. Conclusions: In Addis Ababa, squamous cell carcinoma and retinoblastoma should be considered when evaluating ophthalmic lesions in adults and children, respectively. Clinicians and pathologists should improve their communication by filling in request forms, providing clear reports and making dialogue.