Purpose
Conjunctival Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents a malignant disease that, if untreated, can cause irreversible loss of vision or even death. It is a rare disease, which is why the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are not always linear. To report a case of a giant conjunctival SCC, including its diagnostic and therapeutic approach.
Methods
A 82 years old man, with history of basal cell carcinoma in situ of the upper eyelid, was referred to the emergency department by a conjunctival lesion of the right eye with 3 months of evolution and rapid growth. Examination revealed a whitish, conical‐shaped temporal conjunctival lesion (16 x 18 x 6.5mm) in the right eye with no mobility relative to the scleral plane and staining with 1% toluidine blue. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging identified the temporal conjunctival lesion in the right eye, without unequivocal signs of scleral and other intraocular structures invasion.
Results
This lesion was excised with a 4 mm margin, using 1% toluidine blue dye, through a no‐touch technique. As adjuvant therapy, we performed cryotherapy of the conjunctival margins and scleral bed, which was covered with amniotic membrane. Histological examination confirmed the presence of a well differentiated conjunctival SCC. One month after surgery, he started treatment with mitomycin‐c 0.04 mg/mL. Three months later, there were no signs of relapse.
Conclusion
Clinical observation allows, in some cases, a high clinical suspicion. The vital staining with topical toluidine blue is an excellent aid in diagnosis, staining most lesions with high sensitivity, and in treatment, allowing to delineate surgical margins. Surgical treatment alone is associated with recurrence rates of up to about 70%, which is why adjuvant therapy, in particular cryotherapy and topical mitomycin‐c, is advocated. Although less common in the daily practice of an ophthalmologist, conjunctival SCC is potentially fatal and, therefore, deserves particular attention.
