Histological pattern of acquired conjunctival growths and their relationship to HIV infection at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Over the past few years a considerable body of literature has reported an increase in the incidence of acquired conjunctival growths. A significant relationship to the HIY/AIDS pandemic has been shown. There is no data representative of Tanzania. This study was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital eye departmnet to describe the histological pattern of acquired conjunctival growths and to correlate it to the my serological status. The study design was cross sectional descriptive involving 120 patients obtained over a period of 8 months (May 2002-December 2002). Collected data were filled in a data sheet for each patient. Recorded data included demographic information, clinical description of the growth, histological type of growth and my serological status of the patient. Data were analyzed using the EPINF06 package designed for population surveys in cross sectional studies. The mean age of the study subjects was 35.6 years with a range of 8-80 years. 79.2% of patients were in the age group 16-45 years. Females accounted for 65% of the study population. Histologically benign growths accounted for 46.6%, premaligant 9.2% and malignant growths accounted for 44.2%. The commonest histological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma (32.5%), followed by pterygium (24.2%). Pingueculae and Kaposis sarcoma each accounted for 10.0% of all growths. 42.5% of patients were my seropositive. Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma and Kaposis sarcoma were found to be significantly associated with my seropositivity (P values <0.01).

Vll In conclusion the present findings suggest that conjunctival