The social and clinical profile of patients with ocular surface squamous cell carcinoma in Tanzania.
Most ocular surface squamous cell carcinoma patients in Tanzania are HIV-positive.
The social and clinical profile of patients with ocular surface squamous cell carcinoma in Tanzania.
Ocular surface squamous cell carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma) is the most common ocular malignancy and occurs disproportionately in Sub-Saharan Africa, where high ultraviolet exposure and HIV prevalence coexist.
We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of adults with histologically confirmed ocular surface squamous cell carcinoma treated at Ocean Road Cancer Institute and Muhimbili National Hospital between January 2016 and December 2019.
about 7 in 10 patients tested positive for HIV
Documentation of CD4 count and viral load was limited.
Most patients presented with locally advanced disease (T3 or T4), with 61.6% staged as T4 and 16.2% as T3, while distant metastasis was not observed.
Computed tomography (computed tomography) imaging, available in a subset of patients, showed low frequencies of intracranial and contralateral orbital extension.
Ocular surface squamous cell carcinoma in Tanzania predominantly affects young, HIV-positive individuals and commonly presents at an advanced local stage, with documentation gaps in immunological and staging documentation.
Improved integration of HIV and cancer care, enhanced diagnostic capacity, and targeted prevention strategies are essential to promote earlier diagnosis and optimize outcomes in high-burden settings.