Topical interferon or surgical excision for the management of primary ocular surface squamous neoplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the successful treatment and long-term outcomes of primary ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) with topical interferon alfa-2b or surgical excision.


METHODS
Retrospective, comparative, interventional case series.


METHODS
Twenty-nine consecutive patients with OSSN never before treated.


METHODS
Patients with primary OSSN chose topical interferon alfa-2b or excision with wide surgical margins, with crossover to surgery in those interferon-treated patients whose OSSN failed to regress within 2 months after beginning therapy.


METHODS
Successful resolution of clinical disease at 2 months after topical interferon treatment and time to recurrence after either topical interferon or surgical excision.


RESULTS
Of 29 patients with primary OSSN, 15 elected topical interferon and 14 chose surgical excision. Two patients in the interferon group subsequently underwent surgical excision for apparent lack of response to interferon. No patient in either group developed a recurrence during the study period (disease-free follow-up: interferon group, mean, 35.6 months [95% confidence interval, 21.9-49.3]; surgery group, mean, 35.6 months [22.9-48.3]).


CONCLUSIONS
Both topical interferon alfa-2b and aggressive surgical excision appear to be effective for primary OSSN.
Sturges
Amber
A
Public Health in Ophthalmology Working Group, Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Butt
Amir L
AL
Lai
James E
JE
Chodosh
James
J
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins