title: Pigmented squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the conjunctiva in 5 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe 5 patients with pigmented conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma in situ.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective noncomparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and histopathologic features were reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relationship of clinical and histopathologic features to carcinoma pigmentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 5 patients were male. Two were Hispanic, 2 were Caucasian, and 1 was Asian Indian. Localized racial melanosis was evident in 3 cases and no case showed diffuse racial melanosis. The tumor showed leukoplakia (n = 1) and was at the temporal limbus (n = 4) or nasal limbus (n = 1). The mean tumor basal dimension was 9.2 mm and mean thickness was 3.2 mm. Brown pigment was present deep within the tumor in all 5 cases, involving 50% to 90% of the mass. In each case, pigmented squamous cell carcinoma was suspected; melanoma was a second possibility. Histopathology revealed in situ squamous cell carcinoma (conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia) with pigmented dendritic melanocytes in all 5 cases. Pigment was also found within neoplastic cells (n = 2). After surgical resection, there was no recurrence over mean follow-up of 23 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Squamous cell carcinoma in situ can manifest as a pigmented tumor, resembling melanoma, in both Caucasians and non-Caucasians, primarily due to intratumoral pigmented dendritic melanocytes.
authors: Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. carol.shields@shieldsoncology.com
authors: Carol L
authors: CL
authors: Shields
authors: Ajay
authors: A
authors: Manchandia
authors: Rajeeve
authors: R
authors: Subbiah
authors: Ralph C
authors: RC
authors: Eagle
authors: Jerry A
authors: JA
authors: Shields
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies