Article Text
Abstract
Background/aims This systematic review critically evaluated peer-reviewed publications describing morphological features consistent with, or using terms related to, a ‘neuroma’ or ‘microneuroma’ in the human cornea using laser-scanning in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).
Methods The review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020160038). Comprehensive literature searches were performed in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase and the Cochrane Library in November 2019. The review included primary research studies and reviews that described laser-scanning IVCM for examining human corneal nerves. Papers had to include at least one of a pre-specified set of keyword stems, broadly related to neuromas and microneuromas, to describe a corneal nerve feature.
Results Twenty-five papers (20 original studies; 5 reviews) were eligible. Three original studies evaluated corneal nerve features in healthy eyes. Most papers assessed corneal nerves in ocular and systemic conditions; seven studies did not include a control/comparator group. There was overlap in terminology used to describe nerve features in healthy and diseased corneas (eg, bulb-like/bulbous, penetration, end/s/ing). Inspection of IVCM images within the papers revealed that features termed ‘neuromas’ and ‘microneuromas’ could potentially be physiological corneal stromal-epithelial nerve penetration sites. We identified inconsistent definitions for terms, and limitations in IVCM image acquisition, sampling and/or reporting that may introduce bias and lead to inaccurate representation of physiological nerve characteristics as pathological.
Conclusion These findings identify a need for consistent nomenclature and definitions, and rigorous IVCM scanning and analysis protocols to clarify the prevalence of physiological, as opposed to pathological, corneal nerve features.
- cornea
- imaging
Data availability statement
Data are available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author (Associate Professor Laura Downie, ldownie@unimelb.edu.au).
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Footnotes
Twitter @DrLauraDownie
Contributors HRC, MAS, NDG and LED conceived and designed the work. HRC, RR, HJ, MW, ACZ, MEHDS, EM and LED undertook the acquisition and analysis of the data. All authors contributed to interpretation of the data. LED drafted the work, with all other authors revising and/or critically evaluating it for intellectual content.
Funding National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia APP1126540 (HRC); Rebecca L Cooper Medical Foundation (LED); NIH/NEI EY08512 (MAS); National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, APP1101078 and APP1156944 (ND). The funding organisations had no role in the design or conduct of this work.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
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