title: Massive precorneal extension of squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva.
abstract: A 73-year-old man had only light perception vision from a slowly enlarging fleshy papillomatous mass covering the entire cornea. The lesion was excised completely, leaving a clear corneal bed and 20/25 vision. Histopathologically, the lesion was found to be squamous cell carcinoma in situ with early microinvasion of the basement membrane. Viral studies for human papilloma virus were negative. This case represents a massive superficial involvement of the cornea by squamous cell carcinoma and shows the resistance of Bowman's membrane to tumor penetration.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Eagel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Potter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talansky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003452:Cryosurgery; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014792:Visual Acuity