[Contribution of in vivo confocal microscopy to limbal tumor evaluation].
OBJECTIVE
To explore tumors of the limbus with a new in vivo confocal microscope and to compare the images to histology results.


METHODS
We evaluated three tumors in three patients with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II, Rostock Cornea Module. A diagnostic and therapeutic excision with adjunctive cryotherapy was performed for each individual. Confocal microscopy was compared to histopathologic sections.


RESULTS
Histology identified two dysplasias and one carcinoma in situ. The main pathological features were visible on our images: cytonuclear atypias, epithelial folds into an inflammatory and vascularized conjunctival stroma, fine vessels perpendicular to the surface, a clear limit with normal epithelium, papillomatous organization, and abnormal keratinization.


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary study showed that this type of limbal tumor could be explored using in vivo confocal microscopy. We were not able to determine whether there was a microinvasion. This new method could be a diagnostic aid, especially for atypical lesions and for follow-up because of frequent recurrences. Other studies are necessary to confirm our hypothesis.
Duchateau
N
N
Service d'Ophtalmologie III, CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, Paris.
Hugol
D
D
D'Hermies
F
F
Meyer
A
A
Labbé
A
A
Dupas
B
B
Iordanidou
V
V
Renard
G
G
Baudouin
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal