Study of surface ocular tumours and its association with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of 30 patients who were referred to our hospital (A tertiary referral center in Maharashtra) was done. Mass excisional biopsy for histopathology and screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) of all 30 patients was done from 2010 to 2013. The data were analyzed, and the correlation between HIV status and surface ocular tumors was done. Thirty patients were enrolled. There were 17 males and 13 females giving an overall male:female ratio of 1.31:1. On the other hand, the ratio of male:female in the HIV-positive patients was 1.71:1. Their ages ranged from 22 to 74 years with a mean age of 39.7 years. Twenty-two patients were positive while eight patients were negative for the HIV. The CD4 counts of the patients varied from 58 cells/μl to 88 cells/μl with the median count of 70 cells/μl among those who were HIV-positive. Histopathological study showed ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) in 23 patients, i.e. 77% cases, sebaceous cell carcinoma in 4 cases, i.e. 13% cases, basal cell carcinoma in 2 cases, i.e. 7% cases, and nevus in 1 case, i.e. 3% cases. Among those who were HIV positive, the histopathology showed OSSN in 19 i.e. 86% cases, sebaceous cell carcinoma in 2 i.e. 9% cases, and basal cell carcinoma in 1 i.e. 4.5% cases. This study shows that OSSN is the most frequent surface ocular tumor and majority of HIV-positive patients with tumors are young and have less CD4 count.