Conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia occurring in young patients with asthma.
BACKGROUND
Conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) typically occurs in elderly individuals. A number of aetiological factors are implicated in CIN, including life-long exposure to ultra-violet light and immunodeficiency states, particularly HIV infection. Asthma is a common condition affecting more than 3.5 million individuals in the UK, and is associated with atopy in approximately 70% of cases. In this paper we describe CIN occurring in young patients with asthma.


METHODS
Retrospective case series: A review of our ocular oncology database helped to identify 11 patients<55 years of age and presenting with CIN. Of these, seven (64%) were noted to have co-existent asthma.


RESULTS
Seven patients were included in the study (six male and one female). Mean age at presentation was 44 years (range 36-54 years). Five patients showed unilateral disease, whereas two showed bilateral. Five patients showed local recurrence; however, there were no cases of metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of CIN, particularly bilateral CIN, in younger immunocompetent individuals is very unusual, and the presence of asthma in 64% of our patient cohort suggests that atopic asthma may be a further aetiological factor involved in the development of this rare neoplasm.
Rundle
P
P
Department of Ophthalmology, Ocular Oncology Clinic, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. Paul.Rundle@sth.nhs.uk
Mudhar
H S
HS
Rennie
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies