title: Pterygium and associated ocular surface squamous neoplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the rate of histopathologically identified ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) in pterygium specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  All pterygium specimens collected from consecutive patients between April 8, 2003, and February 6, 2008, were submitted for histopathologic examination, and the rate of OSSN was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of OSSN was 9.8% (52 of 533) insequential pterygium specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This rate of unsuspected OSSN suggests that all specimens of pterygium should be submitted for histopathologic examination and that patients in whom OSSN is noted should be examined at more frequent intervals so any clinical OSSN that develops can be identified at an early stage.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Eye Institute and Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. lawrie.hirst@qei.org.au
authors.forename: Lawrence W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Hirst
authors.forename: Roy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Axelsen
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwab
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult