A five year review of orbital biopsies at two Johannesburg hospitals

Abstract

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to report on the histological diagnosis of orbital biopsies and to describe the associated demographic data . Methods: A clinical audit of orbital biopsies was undertaken at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospitals. The study period was from January 2011 to December 2015. Patient information was captured from theatre registers and the laboratory database. Results: The largest group of orbital lesions biopsied were cystic lesions (17.3%) followed by lacrimal gland lesions (16%). The patients’ ages ranged from 1-82 years. The majority of patients were African (85.3%) and female (52%).. Conclusion: The results of this clinical audit differ slightly from international reports. It is the first report of orbital biopsies in a South African, tertiary hospital setting