Congenital Corneal Staphyloma: A Comprehensive Histopathologic Assessment Including Associated Anterior Segment Abnormalities

Congenital corneal staphyloma is a rare congenital malformation with guarded visual potential. The cornea is opaque, markedly ectatic, and lined by uveal tissue with a variety of associated anterior segment abnormalities. In this case report, the detailed histopathology of this condition is highlighted with an unusual finding of the malformed lens. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(3):e28-e32.].

Congenital corneal staphyloma in 8q21.11 microdeletion syndrome

BACKGROUND

Although 8q21.11 microdeletion syndrome (8q21.11 DS) has been reported in association with congenital corneal opacities, reports of the clinicopathological features and management are scarce.

METHODS

We reviewed medical records including ophthalmic evaluations, imaging, operative reports, and pathology reports of two unrelated patients referred to the Ophthalmology Clinic of UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh with a cytogenetic diagnosis of 8q21.11 DS.

RESULTS

Ophthalmological evaluation of both children revealed bilateral enlarged, staphylomatous, and cloudy corneas with neovascularization. These findings were consistent with the diagnosis of congenital corneal staphyloma (CCS). In one patient, anterior segment optical coherence tomography and high-frequency ultrasound revealed materials consistent with lens remnants embedded in the cornea; this was confirmed by histopathology. In the second patient, lens was found to be adherent to the cornea during surgery. One eye underwent enucleation for corneal perforation secondary to elevated intraocular pressure. In the other eyes, treatment consisted of penetrating keratoplasty combined with vitrectomy. Ahmed tube was subsequently placed to control intraocular pressure.

CONCLUSION

8q21.11 microdeletion syndrome can be associated with bilateral CCS, likely related to a combination of anterior segment developmental anomalies and elevated intraocular pressure. Tectonic penetrating keratoplasty is necessary to prevent corneal perforation, together with a strict control of the intraocular pressure.

Histopathological examination of congenital corneal staphyloma and prognosis after penetrating keratoplasty

The aim of this study was to investigate the histopathological manifestations of congenital corneal staphyloma accompanied by anterior segment dysgenesis and evaluate the prognosis after penetrating keratoplasty with an ultralarge button graft.We retrospectively studied 8 pediatric patients with large congenital corneal staphylomas in the Department of Ophthalmology of Peking University Third Hospital, China, between September 2014 and December 2018. All patients underwent penetrating keratoplasty with ultralarge button grafts, as well as additional operations according to the abnormality of each eye. Pathological investigations of all samples obtained during penetrating keratoplasty were performed with hematoxylin and eosin staining.The main clinical characteristic of congenital corneal staphyloma was an extremely opaque and ectatic cornea. Histopathological examination showed abnormal corneal epithelia and stroma and an absence of Bowman membrane, Descemet membrane, and the endothelium. Different severities of anterior segment dysgenesis, presenting as various histopathological manifestations, were observed in all cases. Several postoperative complications occurred after penetrating keratoplasty in some of the patients; however, the complications were discovered and treated accordingly in a timely manner. Six patients achieved good visual outcomes and a satisfactory cosmetic appearance after penetrating keratoplasty. One patient eventually lost the transparency of the button because of corneal neovascularization, and 1 patient lost visual function because of retinal detachment.Congenital corneal staphyloma combined with anterior segment dysgenesis can exhibit various manifestations on histopathological examination. Penetrating keratoplasty with an ultralarge button graft seems to be a suitable treatment for congenital corneal staphyloma to obtain good functional and aesthetic prognoses.