Introduction: Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) refers to a spectrum of conjunctival and corneal epithelial disease ranging from dysplasia to invasive carcinoma. HIV infection is an important risk factor postulated for the development of disease.
Aim: To compare and to find out any statistically significant difference in patient demographics, clinical features and pathological findings in HIV infected and non-HIV infected histologically proven cases of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN).
Materials and methods: In the present retrospective case study, data from indoor case records and ocular pathology records of histologically proven cases of OSSN was obtained. The data was then tabulated under various clinicopathological headings in HIV affected and non HIV affected groups. A chi-square test was applied to compare data of two groups and look for any significant difference between two groups. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Amongst the total of 48 patients, 11 were HIV positive and 37 were HIV negative. Age of the patients ranged from 14-66 years in HIV and 22-66 years in non HIV group with a preponderance of younger age patients in HIV positive group. 54.5% patients with lesion having base more than 5mm were observed at the time of presentation in HIV positive population as compared to 21.6% in non HIV cases. Feeder vessels were seen in all HIV patients and a significantly greater degree of fornicial involvement was noted in comparison with non-HIV group. Histopathological analysis showed 63.63% of cases to be of invasive carcinoma amongst the HIV positive group and 54.05% of invasive carcinoma in non HIV group.
Conclusion: Younger age and aggressive looking tumour at presentation should caution ophthalmologist to look for an undiagnosed HIV infection in OSSN patients.
Keywords: Conjunctival squamous neoplasia; HIV and ocular neoplasia.