[Conjunctival balloon cell nevi--light- and electronmicroscopic findings in 2 patients].
METHODS
Two 19-year-old patients presented with small nasal conjunctival tumors. Histologic examination revealed subepithelial tumors consisting of large cells with deeply basophilic, small, centrally-placed nuclei and abundant, slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm with microvesicles. Electron microscopy showed premelanosomes in some of the balloon cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The balloon cell nevus is a rare variant of the conjunctival nevi. The characteristic intracellular microvesicles are probably degenerative remnants of premelanosomes.
Budde
M
M
Augenklinik mit Poliklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen.
Schlötzer-Schrehardt
U
U
Hofmann-Rummelt
C
C
Holbach
L M
LM
D000328:Adult; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology