Detection by impression cytologic analysis of conjunctival intraepithelial invasion from eyelid sebaceous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate that conjunctival impression cytologic analysis can detect conjunctival intraepithelial invasion from sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid.


METHODS
Observational case series with cytopathologic correlation.


METHODS
Four patients with unilateral blepharoconjunctivitis and biopsy-proven sebaceous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Impression cytologic analysis specimens were taken from the suspicious area of the bulbar conjunctiva of each patient. Staining of the specimens was performed with a modified Papanicolaou stain.


METHODS
Observation of the abnormal tumor cells in the collected specimens by bright field microscope.


RESULTS
The technique of impression cytologic analysis allowed collection and identification of abnormal tumor cells with characteristic cytoplasmic vacuoles.


CONCLUSIONS
Conjunctival impression cytologic analysis successfully detected the ocular surface sebaceous carcinoma cells from the eyelid. However, full-thickness biopsies are necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Judicious use of impression cytologic analysis may facilitate the detection and diagnosis of this invasive tumor.
Sawada
Yu
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, 516 Delaware Street SE, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Fischer
Jeffrey L
JL
Verm
Alan M
AM
Harrison
Andrew R
AR
Yuan
Ching
C
Huang
Andrew J W
AJ
D018266:Adenocarcinoma, Sebaceous / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000473:pathology; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology*; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012626:Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*