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- Title
Ocular surface squamous neoplasia as the first apparent manifestation of HIV infection in Malawi.
- Authors
Spitzer, Martin S.; Batumba, Nkume H.; Chirambo, Tamara; Bartz-Schmidt, Karl U.; Kayange, Petros; Kalua, Khumbo; Szurman, Peter
- Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of undiagnosed and asymptomatic HIV infection in patients with ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) in an urban patient population in Malawi. Methods: A consecutive series of patients presenting with OSSN was evaluated in an African academic centre. A detailed history and physical examination in 53 consecutive patients with conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma and conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia were performed. Thirty-eight (72%) patients agreed to undergo serological HIV testing. Results: Seventy-nine per cent (30 of 38) patients were HIV positive. None of the patients had previous HIV testing or was aware of having symptoms of HIV. Seventy per cent ( n = 21) of the HIV-positive patients had no other symptoms suggestive of HIV infection or any other disease. Patients were far more likely to refuse HIV testing if they were married and male. Conclusions: The conjunctival tumour may be the primary and only apparent manifestation of HIV in patients presenting with OSSN in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Subjects
MALAWI; AFRICA; HIV infections; SQUAMOUS cell carcinoma; CANCER patients; TUMORS
- Publication
Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology, 2008, Vol 36, Issue 5, p422
- ISSN
1442-6404
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1442-9071.2008.01794.x