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Conjunctival squamous cell neoplasia: the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre experience

  • Oncology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To report the outcome of patients with conjunctival squamous cell neoplasia (CSCN)—including conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), conjunctival squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (C-SIN) and carcinoma in situ (CIS)—treated at the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre (LOOC).

Methods

Patients treated between January 1993 and September 2011 were identified and categorised as having ‘primary’ or ‘salvage’ treatment, according to whether they had undergone a surgical procedure before referral to our centre. Invasive SCC was treated by excision with adjunctive ruthenium plaque radiotherapy. C-SIN or CIS was treated with topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and in a few cases, cryotherapy.

Results

Primary treatment was administered to 20 patients (16 males, four females). Mean age was 62 years (range, 33–85). Histological examination revealed C-SIN/CIS in ten patients and invasive SCC in nine. Median follow-up was 69 months (range, 34–168). Three patients required further topical chemotherapy for persistent/recurrent C-SIN. Salvage therapy was administered to 21 patients (15 males, six females). Mean age was 63 years (range, 26–82). Histology showed C-SIN/CIS in 11 patients and invasive SCC in ten. Median follow-up was 54.5 months (range, 36–120). At the close of this audit, there was no recurrence of invasive or metastatic disease in either the primary or salvage groups.

Conclusions

Our established protocol for treatment of CSCN has proven successful in local tumour control, and avoids ocular complications. We advocate adjunctive radiotherapy in patients with invasive SCC and chemotherapy in C-SIN/CIS. For improved patient outcome, prompt referral to a specialist centre is encouraged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liverpool Ocular Oncology Service, St Paul’s Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK

    N. Kenawy, A. Garrick, H. Heimann & B. E. Damato

  2. Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, 6th Floor Duncan Building, Daulby Street, L69 3GA, Liverpool, UK

    N. Kenawy & S. E. Coupland

  3. Ocular Oncology Service, Departments of Ophthalmology and Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    B. E. Damato

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  1. N. Kenawy
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  2. A. Garrick
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Correspondence to N. Kenawy.

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Kenawy, N., Garrick, A., Heimann, H. et al. Conjunctival squamous cell neoplasia: the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre experience. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 253, 143–150 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-014-2860-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-014-2860-7

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