J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2019 Feb;60(2):119-125. 10.3341/jkos.2019.60.2.119.

Pathological Classification and Incidence of Conjunctival Tumors in Korean Patients: Single-center Study

• Lee JW
• Kim SY
• Jung MS

• KMID: 2438070
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2019.60.2.119

Abstract

PURPOSE
To report the pathological classification and incidence of conjunctival tumors in Korean patients.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review was conducted for 234 patients who underwent excisional biopsy of conjunctival neoplasia between January 2007 and December 2016 at Soonchunhyang University Hospital. The clinical features, histological classification, and frequency of pigmented conjunctival masses were investigated.
RESULTS
The mean age of the 234 patients who underwent excisional biopsy was 37.9 ± 21.6 years. The most common location of conjunctival lesions was the bulbar conjunctiva in 145 patients (62%), with pigmentary lesions in 68 patients (29.2%). Most tumors were benign (n = 201, 85.9%), while 34 malignant tumors were found as follows: 71 patients (30.3%) had epithelial tumors, 67 (28.6%) had melanocytic tumors, 33 (14.1%) had lymphoid tumors, and 26 (11.1%) had lipomatous tumors.
CONCLUSIONS
Most of the conjunctival tumors in Korean patients were benign. Epithelial tumors were the most common, and melanocytic tumors were less common then in Western studies. However, clinically malignant cases were not uncommon, occurring at a rate of 14.1%. Therefore, conjunctival tumors in elderly patients, lesions that are large, and the presence of a conjunctival sac are more likely to be malignant. Therefore, accurate histological diagnosis and treatment are needed.

Keyword

Conjunctival neoplasms; Lymphoma; Pathology; Pigmented nevus; Squamous carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Aged
Biopsy
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Classification*
Conjunctiva
Conjunctival Neoplasms
Diagnosis
Humans
Incidence*
Lacrimal Apparatus
Lymphoma
Nevus, Pigmented
Pathology
Retrospective Studies

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Representative pictures of conjunctival masses. (A) Nevus, (B) Conjunctival papilloma, (C) Lipoma, (D) Fibroma, (E) Pyogenic granuloma, (F) Capillary hemangioma, (G) Primary acquired melanosis, (H) Herniated orbital fat, (I) MALT lymphoma, (J) Squamous cell carcinoma, (K) Sebaceous cell carcinoma, (L) Malignant melanoma.

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