[Contribution of in vivo confocal microscopy to diagnosis of invasive ocular surface squamous neoplasia: a case report].
BACKGROUND
Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is the most common conjunctival and limbic malignant tumor that could resemble a pterygium in the early phase of the disease.


METHODS
We report the case of a woman who presented with a limbic tumor of the left eye that was mistakenly diagnosed as a pterygium. An in vivo confocal microscopy examination using the HRTII Rostock Cornea Module and a surgical biopsy were performed. The in vivo confocal microscopy findings and the slit lamp examination showed characteristics that strongly supported the diagnosis of OSSN, and the histological examination of both biopsy and surgical exeresis (exenteration) confirmed the diagnosis of epidermoid carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report underlines the value of in vivo confocal microscopy in the diagnosis of OSSN, particularly epidermoid carcinoma. This device could be helpful for the early differential diagnosis with pterygium.
Service d'Ophtalmologie III, Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, Paris, France.
R Tahiri Joutei
RT
Hassani
E
E
Brasnu
N
N
Amar
L
L
Gheck
A
A
Labbé
M
M
Sterkers
C
C
Baudouin
D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000175:diagnosis