To describe the pattern of ocular diseases seen during the study period. Retrospective review of surgical pathology and cytology records from January 1991 to December 1999. Reference was also made to case notes where necessary. A total of 225 orbital and ocular surgical pathology specimens were reviewed. One hundred and twenty-five (56.8%) were from males and 100 from females (ratio: 1.3:1). Over 50% of the specimens were obtained from children and young adults less than 20 years of age. There were 168 tumours, with malignancies accounting for 73.8% of all tumours. Other pathological lesions included, inflammatory conditions, benign tumours, and degenerative conditions, which represent 21.8%, 19.6%, and 2.2% of all lesions respectively. Retinoblastoma accounted for 57.3% of all malignancies, the age range was 3 months to 12 years, mean 2.65 years. The modal age was 2 years. Squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva, accounting for 12.1% of all malignancies was the commonest malignancy seen in the adult age group. Malignant melanoma was rare and no case of Kaposi's sarcoma was seen. Commonest non-neoplastic lesions resulting in enucleation of the eye were panophthalmitis and endophthalmitis. Human immunodeficiency virus screening was only done in 3 of 8 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and was positive in 2 of them. Malignancies of the eye and orbit continue to make up majority of orbit and ocular pathologies requiring enucleation in children and young adults. Despite an observed increase in the frequency, insufficient information precludes evaluation of a link between HIV and squamous cell carcinoma as well as other obito-ocular lesions such as Kaposi sarcoma.
Adolescent Adult