Objective: To characterize precancerous conjunctival intraepithelial tumours on file at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP).
Design: Chart review.
Setting: Registry of Ophthalmic Pathology of the AFIP.
Numbers: Forty-five patients with intraepithelial neoplastic lesions of the conjunctiva followed for at least 2 years.
Main outcome measures: Extent; papillomatous pattern; degree of parakeratosis, hyperkeratosis and atypia; and amount of solar elastosis.
Results: Based on their histologic appearance, 24 cases were classified as actinic keratosis and 21 cases as dysplasia. Clinically, lesions classified as actinic keratosis tended to be focal and leukoplakic, whereas those classified as dysplasia tended to be diffuse and gelatinous. Two of the lesions classified as actinic keratosis recurred, compared with 13 of the lesions classified as dysplasia. In one patient with dysplasia locally invasive squamous cell carcinoma developed after numerous recurrences, requiring orbital exenteration. The degree of atypia was not correlated with recurrence in either group.
Conclusions: Most intraepithelial neoplastic lesions of the conjunctiva can be readily diagnosed by the ophthalmic pathologist as either actinic keratosis or dysplasia.