TUMOURS OF THE EYE AND OCULAR ADNEXA IN ZARIA: A 10-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE HISTOPATHOLOGICAL REVIEW (2005-2014)

Abstract

Background
Tumours of the eye and ocular adnexa are of enormous social and medical importance as
they constitute threat to vision and/or life. This study aims to review the epidemiologic and
pathologic characteristics of these tumours and document the immunohistochemical
characteristics of ocular lymphoma and melanoma.
Materials and Method
All the cases entered into the departmental records as tumours of the eye and ocular adnexa
were extracted. The patients’ request cards filled by the requesting clinicians together with all
relevant histology slides stained with routine Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) were
retrieved. Fresh sections were made from stored tissue blocks in the event of missing or
broken slides. Immunohistochemical stains using direct immunoperoxidase method
(GenemedTM) for S-100, HMB-45 and Melan A was done for histologically diagnosed
melanoma. For lymphoma cases, a panel of antibodies consisting of CD20, CD10, CD23,
CD5, and BCL-2 were employed to subclassify the tumours.
All the slides were reviewed with the Supervising Consultants and the cases were classified
using the 2nd edition of the WHO International Histologic Typing of Tumours of the Eye and
its Adnexa. Data was analysed using the Statistical program for Social Sciences (SPSS)
version 20.0 software and presented in frequency distribution tables, figures and
photomicrographs.
Results
There were 257 cases of tumours of the eye and ocular adnexa of which 60 were benign, 190
were malignant while 7 cases represented intraepithelial neoplasia. There was a male-to
female ration of 1.5:1 with 2 peak ages of occurrence in early childhood and adulthood.
xii

Retinoblastoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva were the most common
neoplasms of the eye and ocular adnexa. Tumours of the uveal tract were very rare with only
1 case being recorded over the 10-year period. Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma
(ENMZL) constitutes the most common ocular adnexal lymphoma and frequently arises in
the orbit. No single case of Burkitt lymphoma was seen in this study.
Conclusion
This study reflects the diversity of histological types that is common to tumours of the eye
and ocular adnexa. Retinoblastoma and conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma remain the
major tumours in children and adults respectively and this is comparable to other national and
regional studies.