title: [Epidemiology of ocular and orbital lesions referred to an ocular oncology center].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the epidemiology of ocular and orbital lesions referred to an ocular oncology center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of ocular lesions referred between November 1997 and November 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,257 lesions were recorded in 640 females and 617 males. The mean age at the initial visit was 52 years (range, 0 to 94 years). Patients more than 60 years old accounted for 46% of our series. The lesions were classified into four groups: intraocular lesions (69%), superficial layer lesions (18%), adnexal tissues lesions (7%) and orbital lesions (6%). The posterior uvea was the most frequent localization. The clinical diagnosis of 374 lesions (30%) was confirmed by histological examination. The most frequent tumors were retinoblastoma in children and teenagers, conjunctival nevus young adults, choroidal melanoma in slightly older patients and posterior choroidal nevus in elderly people.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reviewed the epidemiological characteristics of ocular and orbital lesions referred to an ocular oncology center for their diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Oncologie Oculaire, Service d'Ophtalmologie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200, Bruxelles, Belgique.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levecq
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Potter
authors.forename: A-P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Guagnini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation