title: [Atopic keratoconjunctivitis: probably a risk factor for the development of conjuntival carcinoma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Almost half of the patients with atopic dermatitis experience chronic inflammation of the eyelids, the conjunctiva and the cornea. Chronic inflammation is a possible cause for the development of malignancies, especially if associated with some kind of immunological defect as in atopic patients. So far, a correlation between atopic conjunctivitis and conjunctival malignancies has not yet been reported. Here, we present 7 atopic patients with conjunctival carcinoma or carcinoma in situ detected between February 2000 and August 2001.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 7 patients had a long history of atopic dermatitis and chronic of inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea. In all patients smears were examined by cytology and DNA cytometry. Furthermore, in 6 of the 7 patients a histopathological examination of conjunctival biopsies was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 4 of the 7 patients invasive conjunctival carcinoma and in 2 carcinoma in situ were detected. Cytology and cytometry revealed conjunctival carcinoma or carcinoma in situ in the remaining patient. Histopathological examination could not be performed since the patient refused to have a conjunctival biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that atopic keratoconjunctivitis might be a risk factor for the development of conjunctival carcinoma.
authors: Augenklinik der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Kallen
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Reinhard
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Schilgen
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Cartsburg
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Böcking
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Auw-Hädrich
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Sundmacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D013223:Statistics as Topic