Study on the frequency of morphological diagnoses in biopsy samples from the eye and ocular adnexa and the characteristics of the patient population over a one-year period at the Ophthalmology Clinic, Pleven

Abstract

Introduction: For the planning of treatment activities, early diagnosis, and prevention of eye and ocular adnexal diseases, regular analysis of morbidity on a regional and national scale should be conducted.

Aim: The aim of this article is to investigate the frequency of morphological diagnoses in biopsy samples from the eye and ocular adnexa over a one-year period at the Ophthalmology Clinic of Dr. Georgi Stranski University Hospital, Pleven.

Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of biopsy cases from the archive of the Department of Pathoanatomy at Dr. Georgi Stranski University Hospital, Pleven, was conducted. Cases operated on in the Ophthalmology Clinic in 2024 were extracted and analyzed by histological result, age, and gender. Analysis by age and diagnosis was performed using ANOVA test (SPSS). A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 78 biopsies were studied during the period. Among the analyzed material, eye/globe biopsies numbered 7 out of 78, including two enucleations (due to uveal melanoma) and five biopsies, two with degenerative changes, one suspicious for lymphoproliferative neoplasm, and two scleral biopsies (one with epithelial dysplasia and one with conjunctival subepithelial melanocytic nevus). In 71 of the 78 biopsies, the samples were from ocular adnexa. A statistically significant difference in age distribution between different nosological entities was found (F = 3.884, p < 0.0005).

Conclusion: The frequency and diagnostic distribution of the analyzed histological specimens, particularly tumors of the eye and ocular adnexa, correspond to or are similar to those described in the literature. An age-based distribution was observed, with specific nosological units showing tendencies to appear in certain age groups.