Intracorneal and Intraocular Invasion of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia after Intraocular Surgery: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

Intraocular Invasion by Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Clinical Presentation, Histopathological Findings, and Outcome

Introduction

Intraocular localization of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is due to scleral or corneal invasion. Herein, we describe the clinical and histopathological findings in four cases of SCC complicated by intraocular invasion, and we review cases reported in the literature and their management. We retrospectively collected and analyzed clinical characteristics, histopathology, management, and follow-up data from 4 patients with conjunctival SCC complicated by intraocular invasion. We reviewed the literature and summarized cases of intraocular invasion by conjunctival SCC reported over the last 30 years.

Case Presentations

Two patients presented with intraocular invasion by conjunctival SCC at diagnosis. The two others developed intraocular invasion as recurrence of conjunctival SCC, previously treated with excisional biopsy and adjuvant radiotherapy. All 4 cases had a previous history of conjunctival surgery, but no history of intraocular surgery. Three patients were managed with modified enucleation, including one that required adjuvant orbital radiotherapy. One patient required orbital exenteration. Histopathology analysis showed a well-differentiated conjunctival SCC in all cases. None developed distant localization after at least 2.5-year follow-up.

Discussion/Conclusion

Intraocular invasion is a rare complication of conjunctival SCC. Appropriate treatment in a tertiary center and long-term follow-up are highly recommended.

Intraocular Spread of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia Presenting as a Postoperative Anterior Chamber Opacity after Excisional Biopsy

We describe a rare case of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) with intraocular spread after excisional biopsy which presented as a postoperative anterior chamber (A/C) opacity, initially thought to be a hypopyon. A 60-year-old female with history of a right (OD) conjunctival mass involving the cornea, surgically excised and diagnosed as OSSN, presented 2 months postoperatively with an A/C opacity concerning for infection. The patient was prescribed prednisolone acetate and ofloxacin drops postoperatively; topical chemotherapy was not given. When the opacity did not respond to 3 weeks of topical treatment, they were referred to an ocular oncologist for management. Intraoperative records from biopsy were unavailable; use of cryotherapy is unknown. On presentation, the patient had reduced vision OD. On slit-lamp exam, a white plaque in the A/C was seen, obscuring the iris. Given concern for postoperative intraocular cancer spread and extent of disease, enucleation with extended conjunctival excision was done. Gross pathology revealed an A/C mass with a diffuse hazy membrane. Histopathology diagnosed moderately differentiated OSSN with extensive intraocular invasion; a full-thickness limbal defect was visualized. Disease was confined to the globe, without residual conjunctival malignancy. This case emphasizes the importance of taking surgical precaution when excising conjunctival lesions, especially large lesions which obscure ocular anatomy, to maintain scleral integrity and Bowman's layer with limbal lesions. Intraoperative cryotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy should also be employed. If a patient with history of ocular surface malignancy displays symptoms concerning postoperative infection, this case highlights the importance of considering invasive disease.

Management of coexisting bilateral ocular surface disease in xeroderma pigmentosum - sequence and outcomes

PURPOSE

To report a rare presentation of bilateral, coexisting ocular surface disease in a case of Xeroderma pigmentosum and its successful management.

METHODS

Case report.

RESULTS

A 21-year-old male with Xeroderma pigmentosum presented with bilateral ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) along with central guttae in the right eye and corneal decompensation of the left eye. Subsequently, the patient developed dry eyes and lid margin keratinization in both eyes followed by perforation in the left eye. Sequential procedures both medical and surgical, including excision of the tumour, corneal transplantation and mucous membrane grafting addressing each of these ocular surface issues resulted in a successful outcome. There was no recurrence of the tumour over 3 years. Corneal transplantation is preferably done after a minimum of 6 months following excision. Mucous membrane grafting performed for progressive lid margin keratinization resulted in surface stabilization.

CONCLUSIONS

In Xeroderma Pigmentosum, multiple ocular surface features can rarely coexist and be bilateral. Periodic evaluation of the surface for tumours, progressive dry eyes and endothelial function is recommended as a part of routine evaluation in Xeroderma pigmentosum. Surface procedures should precede intraocular intervention. Sequential management can result in successful outcomes.

Update on the Management of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia

Purpose of review

To review and update the latest findings in diagnosis and management of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN).

Recent findings

OSSN is the most common anterior segment neoplastic disease process. Several ocular surface imaging techniques have been developed for the early diagnosis and management of clinical and subclinical ocular surface squamous neoplasia, including high-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT), in vivo confocal microscopy, and ultrasound biomicroscopy. Treatment modalities include both surgical and medical management, with a recent trend towards primary and adjunctive pharmacotherapy.

Summary

There is increasing use of HR-OCT for the diagnosis and monitoring of clinical and subclinical OSSN lesions. Topical pharmacotherapy agents, including interferon α-2b, 5-fluorouracil, and mitomycin C, have demonstrable efficacy in the treatment of OSSN and their use may be dictated based upon tumor factors, patient factors, cost, and side effect profile. Both surgical excision and adjunctive topical medications have excellent success, with the favored treatment method trending towards topical pharmacotherapy as primary therapy.

Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia With Coexistent Microbial Keratitis: Incidence, Risk Factors, Clinical Features, Microbiological Profile, and Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, clinical features, microbiology, risk factors, and treatment outcomes in cases of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) with coexisting microbial keratitis (MK).

METHODS

This was a retrospective case-control study from a cohort of 939 cases with OSSN.

RESULTS

Twenty eyes (2%) with OSSN and MK were included in the study group and 100 age-matched eyes with only OSSN as controls. Most common presentation was a combination of pain, redness, watering, and decreased vision (50%) over a median duration of 14 days. Mean corneal surface involvement by MK was 48% with corneal perforation in 6 cases (30%). Microbiology showed 10 culture positive cases for Gram-positive organisms (n = 5), fungus (n = 4), or mixed infection (n = 1). In the salvaged eyes, MK resolved in 9 eyes (90%) on medical treatment at a mean duration of 30 days and keratoplasty was performed in 1 eye. OSSN treatment included wide excisional biopsy (n = 9/18; 50%), extended enucleation (n = 7/18; 39%), and orbital exenteration in 1. Over a mean follow-up of 12 months, vision salvage was achieved in 7 of 18 (39%) and globe salvage in 10 of 18 (55%). Logistic regression analysis showed the following significant risk factors for MK in OSSN: male sex, human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity, increasing tumor diameter, limbal epicenter, temporal quadrant, noduloulcerative morphology, pigmentation, scleral invasion, keratin, and corneal component of the OSSN lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Rarely, MK can coexist with OSSN leading to a poor treatment outcome. Male sex, human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity, large limbal pigmented OSSN lesion with keratin and corneal component, noduloulcerative morphology, and scleral invasion were risk factors for this association.

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia in New Zealand: a ten-year review of incidence in the Waikato region

BACKGROUND

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is a relatively rare disease with a low mortality and highly variable incidence. Despite a high incidence of OSSN in the Southern hemisphere, there is limited epidemiological data for New Zealand. The current study aims to assess the incidence, demographics, and histological grade of OSSN in the Waikato region of New Zealand, home to ~10% of the population of New Zealand.

METHODS

Non-interventional retrospective cohort study. All conjunctival biopsy histology reports from 2010 to 2019 in the Waikato region of New Zealand were analysed. Age, sex, and ethnicity were analysed and the incidence of OSSN was calculated. Main outcome measures included histological grade, rate of recurrence, and incidence of OSSN.

RESULTS

A total of 386 patients underwent conjunctival biopsy with histology during the study period. Eighty-three lesions (22%) involving 80 patients (21%) were reported positive for OSSN. Patients with OSSN had a mean age of 68.9 years (SD = 13.2), were predominantly male (76%), and of New Zealand-European ethnicity (53%). Conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia-1 (30%) was the most frequent diagnosis. Three patients (4%) had recurrent lesions requiring repeat biopsy. The peak annual OSSN incidence rate was 3.81/100,000 population in 2019. The overall ten-year incidence was 2.13/100,000 population/year.

CONCLUSION

This is the largest study to investigate OSSN incidence in New Zealand. The incidence rate of OSSN is one of the highest rates reported in the literature.

Incidentally detected primary corneal squamous neoplasia in an elderly man presenting with cataract

Primary corneal neoplasia (PCN) is a rare cancerous lesion of cornea usually encountered in elderly. The clinical symptoms are generally non-specific, with ocular irritation, redness, cosmetic disfigurement and varying degrees of visual disturbances depending on visual axis involvement. Corneal neoplasia is usually associated with surrounding conjunctival lesions and incidentally detected PCN is rarely encountered in clinical practice. Presently, we report a case of isolated unilateral PCN diagnosed incidentally in an elderly man presenting with cataract. In vivo confocal microscopy aided in its diagnosis after impression cytology was repeatedly negative. Cataract surgery was deferred and the patient was administered three cycles of mitomycin C 0.04% 4 times/day. The tumour margins receded as evident on clinical examination and on anterior segment optical coherence tomography. We discuss the role of various corneal imaging modalities in diagnosis and management of PCN besides highlighting importance of comprehensive slit-lamp examination in patients planned for cataract surgery.

Intraocular Invasion of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia Through a Corneal Wound

Purpose

We report a case of intraocular invasion of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) through a cataract surgery wound that manifested as an anterior chamber membrane, and perform a review of the literature.

Methods

An 87-year-old woman with history of an incompletely excised OSSN 10 days prior presented with decreased vision due to an anterior chamber membranous film that seemed connected to an old cataract wound. The membrane was biopsied, and histopathology revealed dysplastic squamous epithelial cells of conjunctival origin. Ten days later the tumor expanded to cover the entire iris surface, and a modified enucleation was performed.

Results

Histopathology revealed invasive OSSN extending deep to the ciliary body and laterally into the anterior chamber. The patient developed a submandibular node metastasis 7 months later. Literature review revealed six cases of invasive OSSN resulting from extension through a corneal wound, with varied presentations and outcomes.

Conclusion

Our case is the first to report invasive OSSN presenting as an anterior chamber membrane as a result of incomplete excision of an ocular surface malignancy adjacent to a corneal wound poses a risk for intraocular tumor extension and distant metastasis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40123-020-00294-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Management Issues in Conjunctival Tumours: Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia is the most common tumour of the ocular surface. It is a spectrum of disease from intraepithelial dysplasia to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Recent years have seen an increase in the use of topical chemotherapeutic agents to treat this condition, often as primary treatment without full-thickness biopsy. This practical approach provides a critical appraisal of the evidence base with the goal being to aid the clinician in the management of these patients.

Update on pharmacotherapy for ocular surface squamous neoplasia

The most frequently encountered non-pigmented tumor of the ocular surface is ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). Over the past two decades, the pharmacological management of OSSN has grown, with topical 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin, and interferon alpha 2b all being successfully used to treat this disease. Other agents, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), retinoic acid, cidofovir and Aloe vera, have less frequently been used in the treatment of OSSN. This review will discuss these pharmacologic agents, summarizing available data and presenting the approach to the treatment of these tumors.

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia with intraocular tumour extension: a study of 23 patients

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical features, histopathology and treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) with intraocular tumour extension.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 23 patients.

RESULTS

The mean age at presentation of OSSN with intraocular tumour extension was 48 years. Mass (52%) and pain with redness (30%) were the most common presenting complaints. The mean duration of symptoms was 9 months. History of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was present in eight (35%) patients and one (4%) had xeroderma pigmentosum. History of prior tumour excision was noted in 16 (70%) patients. The mean basal diameter was 17 mm and the mean tumour thickness was 4 mm. Fifteen (65%) tumours had a nodulo-ulcerative tumour pattern at the time of detection of intraocular extension of OSSN. Anterior chamber cells and flare was noted in five (24%) cases and two (9%) patients had secondary glaucoma. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) (n = 11) revealed blunting of anterior chamber in three (27%) cases and uveal thickening in seven (67%) cases. Over the course of follow-up, extended enucleation (n = 6; 26%) or orbital exenteration (n = 17; 74%) was required for tumour control. At a mean follow-up period of 18 months, locoregional lymph node metastasis was seen in two (9%) patients, and one patient died with systemic metastasis. On histopathology, ciliary body was involved in all (100%) cases.

CONCLUSION

Multiple tumour recurrences with history of prior tumour excision and nodulo-ulcerative tumour pattern are commonly associated with intraocular tumour extension of OSSN. UBM is a useful tool to detect intraocular extension of OSSN.

Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Corneal Stromal Invasion in Presumed Pterygia: A Case Series

Aim

To describe 4 cases of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with corneal stromal invasion.

Methods

Retrospective, clinicopathologic case series.

Results

All patients had prior resections of presumed pterygia. The degree of corneal involvement dictated the extent of surgical management. One eye with localized invasion was treated with lamellar keratoplasty and plaque brachytherapy. Another case with widespread invasion warranted penetrating keratoplasty and eventual enucleation. Two cases were treated medically prior to surgical intervention: one with localized invasion was treated with topical interferon and retinoic acid; another with significant inflammation was treated with doxycycline and fluorometholone. The patient who underwent keratoplasty and brachytherapy had no recurrence after 7 years of follow-up. Those initially treated medically had resections of recurrence but ultimately required enucleation. Histologically, specimens demonstrated SCC invading the deep corneal stroma, with 2 tumors of the mucoepidermoid type.

Conclusions

This series demonstrates the importance of maintaining clinical suspicion of conjunctival squamous neoplasia in pterygia. We recommend that all excised pterygia be submitted for histopathologic evaluation and be carefully evaluated for dysplasia and variants of SCC associated with increased risk of intraocular invasion. Undetected ocular surface squamous neoplasia may give rise to potentially vision- and eye-threatening invasive corneal SCC.