title: Impression cytology of conjunctival melanosis and melanoma.
abstract: Impression cytology using cellulose acetate paper has been used in various ocular surface disorders as a simple non-invasive diagnostic test. To assess its value in differentiating melanocytic tumours, 24 patients with a range of pigmented lesions of the conjunctiva were examined using this technique. Cytological and histological diagnoses were compared in 23 cases. In 73% of cases impression cytology predicted the histological diagnosis by detection of superficial atypical melanocytes and their proportion relative to benign epithelial cells. This pilot study shows impression cytology to be a useful diagnostic aid in the differentiation of pigmented tumours of the bulbar conjunctiva.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Pathology, London.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Paridaens
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: McCartney
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Curling
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hungerford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008548:Melanosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology