[Current State of Corneal Pathology in Germany: Results of a Survey Conducted Among Members of the Cornea Section of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG)].
BACKGROUND
The current situation of corneal pathology is widely unknown. Especially, there are no data available how corneal tissue is processed after penetrating keratoplasty.


METHODS
In November 2002 a questionnaire with 15 questions was sent to all registered members of the cornea section of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) ( www.sektionkornea.org ) via email. Only one answer per eye clinic was allowed.


RESULTS
Answers were obtained from 40 eye hospitals in which 3070 penetrating keratoplasties had been performed in 2001. 90 % of the surgeons believe that ophthalmopathological investigations of excised corneal specimens are always or at least in some cases important, and 80 % examine 75 to 100 % of all corneal buttons. However, the corneoscleral rim is investigated only exceptionally. 45 % of all corneal buttons are examined by a pathologist within the hospital while 33 % of the corneal specimens are investigated by an ophthalmopathologist in an ophthalmopathological laboratory. In most cases the hospital itself has to bear the cost. Clinics with a high number of corneal transplantations do not differ from the average regarding the fate of corneal buttons. Morphological investigations and publications concerning the cornea are more frequent when an ophthalmopathological laboratory is available in the hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
For most eye hospitals performing keratoplasties, the histopathological examination of excised corneal buttons is very important. It is carried out to a large extent by pathologists, but specialised ophthalmopathological laboratories are consulted when a profound expertise is needed. Thus, this survey is an argument for the preservation of these laboratories too. Based on the obtained data and on several comments by the section members initiatives to intensify histopathological investigations of excised corneal specimens should be undertaken.
Augenklinik des Universitätsklinikums, Abt. I, Tübingen. jmrohrba@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Jens Martin
JM
Rohrbach
Berthold
B
Seitz
Leonard M
LM
Holbach
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009885:Ophthalmology; D012955:Societies, Medical