Histopathological features of tumours of the orbit and Adnexia seen in Korle-Bu teaching Hospital Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Reports of histological types of orbital and adnexal tumours are few in the West African Sub-region and non-existent in Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to determine and report the histological types of orbital and adnexal tumours seen in the eye unit in Korle-bu Teaching Hospital

METHODS: This was a retrospective study of orbital and adnexal tumours in a referral orbit and oculoplastic clinic in a teaching hospital in Ghana. Biopsy specimen taken from the orbit, conjunctiva and eyelids of patients referred to the orbit and oculoplastic clinic of the eye unit between November 2005 and October 2009 were mailed to Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield, UK for histological evaluation. Histology reports of these biopsy specimens were reviewed and analysed for types of tumours, frequency of occurrence, sex and age of patients.

RESULTS: A total of 190 histological specimen were taken. One hundred and four (54.7%) were malignant tumours, 53 (27.9%) benign tumours and 12 (6.3%) inflammatory lesions. Eighteen (9.5%) of biopsies taken were mostly degenerative conditions.

CONCLUSION: Our findings show, as reported from other centres, that squamous cell carcinomas are the commonest cancers of the orbit and adnexia, while malignant melanomas account for only 3.8% of cancers.