Frequency Of Conjunctival Neoplasias: Survey Of 480 Biopsies

Abstract

Purpose: : To determine the frequency of presentation of conjunctival neoplasia proven by biopsy in a period of 15 years.

Methods: : The files and histopathology reports of patients who underwent biopsy were reviewed from January 1990 to December 2004. The frequency of the conjuntival neoplasias were classified using the Shields classification, which is based on the histological origin of the neoplasia. We did include primary, secondary and metastasic conjuntival lesions. The inflammatory conditions were not included in this study.

Results: : We analyzed a total of 480 biopsies in this study. Two hundred and seventy two (56%) were men; and 208 (44%) were women.The number of biopsies made per year during the first five years were 19.6, from 1995 to 1999 were 28.2 and from 2000 to 2004 were 48.2 Three hundred and eighteen were excisional biopsies and 162 were incisional biopsies. From 10 to 20 years old were 25 (5%), 21–35 were 96 (20%), 36–60 were 278 (58%) and 61–90 were 81 (17%)The most frequent age range was from 35 to 60 years old, this represents the 278 (58%). Conjunctival papiloma accounted for 80 cases (17%); Nevus for 70 cases (14.5%); In situ Squamous Cell Carcinoma for 63 cases (13%); Invasive Squamous cell carcinoma for 60 cases (12.5%); pyogenic granuloma for 40 cases (8.3%) and 134 cases (28%) represents other lesions.

Conclusions: : The most frequent lesion was the conjunctival papilloma against conjunctival nevus described in the literature. The most frequent malignant epithelial lesion was the squamous cell carcinoma; the melanocytic lesion was the nevus; the congenital lesion was the dermoid cyst; the vascular neoplasia was the pyogenic granuloma. The benign lesions were 7 times more frequent than the malignant ones. In our study we observed a prevalence in men, we observed men are more exposed to UV radiation than women.

Keywords: conjunctiva • tumors • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: biostatistics/epidemiology methodology