title: Compound nevus of the cornea simulating a foreign body.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a corneal nevus, without conjunctival involvement, that clinically simulated a metallic foreign body.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report with clinicopathologic correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 22-year-old man developed a superficial pigmented lesion of his left cornea. It was suspected to be a chronically retained foreign body, but a melanocytic neoplasm could not be excluded. The lesion was removed by lamellar keratectomy and proved histopathologically to be a compound nevus of the cornea, without conjunctival involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Melanocytic nevus can rarely occur in the cornea. Involvement of the cornea by a melanocytic lesion does not necessarily imply a malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.lastname: Eagle RCJr
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery