FIVE YEARS FOLLOW-UP OF CONJUNCTIVAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA TREATED WITH ADJUNCTIVE INTERFERON ALPHA-2b

Abstract

Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma mostly arises from the limbal stem cells of the eye. Some of the risk factors for conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma are male gender, advanced age, ultraviolet radiation, and human papillomavirus. Squamous cell carcinoma can manifest with vision loss, ocular redness, mass-feeling, and pain. We aim to present a case of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma successfully treated with surgical excision, cryotherapy, keratectomy, partial scleral excision, and topical interferon alpha-2b. An 81-year-old male patient presented to the Trakya University Department of Ophthalmology complaining of redness and pain in his left eye. Our patient was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma when the pathological examination and clinical picture were reviewed together. The lesion was completely excised with the no-touch technique, and no complications were observed. Pathology specimen showed tumor-free surgical margins. Even though the surgical margins were tumor-free, due to clinical suspicion for recurrence the patient was prescribed topical interferon alpha-2b drops post-operatively and had no recurrence in 5 years of follow-up. In conclusion, although the gold standard treatment in ocular squamous cell neoplasia is still surgical excision with cryogenic therapy, topical chemotherapeutic agents can reveal a good response in the treatment of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma.