[Exophthalmias in Zaire].

PURPOSE

To determinate the frequencies of causes of exophthalmos in Zaïre.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, the records of 129 patients with exophthalmos seen from 1986 to 1994 were reviewed. All patients were examined ophthalmologically and most of them medically. X-Rays, orbital CT Scan, were performed most frequently.

RESULTS

The sex distribution was: 79 (61%) male patients and 50 (39%) female patients. The sex ratio being 1.50/1. The ages of patients ranged from one to 68 years. Unilateral exophthalmos was frequent (76% of cases). Tumors were present in 42% patients, followed by inflammatory diseases in 26% of patients, thyroid eye disease in 9% and traumatic aetiology in 1.6%; the etiology was not determined in 14%. Retinoblastoma (8%), lymphoma (7%) and rhabdomyosarcoma (5%) were the most frequent tumors seen. Orbital cellulitis (26%) was frequently associated with adjacent sinus infection.

CONCLUSION

The etiologic factors found in this study could be compared to those published in the World with the exception of orbital cellulitis and retinoblastoma that showed a high incidence in this study.