title: Squamous cell dysplasia and carcinoma of the conjunctiva. A nationwide, retrospective, epidemiological study of Danish patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the epidemiology of squamous cell dysplasia and carcinoma of the conjunctiva in Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the histopathological case reports at the Eye Pathology Institute (EPI), University of Copenhagen, and the National Danish Pathology Bank from 1980 to 2011. Information regarding distribution of age and sex, localization, earlier pathology, comorbidity and recurrence of the condition was registered. The Cause of Death Registry at Statens Serum Institut was used to obtain information regarding cause of death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 143 cases were identified. Ninety-five (61%) had epithelial dysplasia, 19 (13%) had carcinoma in situ, and 29 (20%) had squamous cell carcinoma. A significantly higher proportion of men were found. The median age at diagnosis was 65 years. The risk of recurrence was 10.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 5.0-15.0] after 1 year and 17.2% (95% CI: 10.8-23.7) after 5 years. The lesions were most often localized to the corneal limbus. In our records, one patient had a lymph node metastasis and the disease necessitated enucleation in two patients. No patients had died from squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, our data are in agreement with the results of previous studies in Northern, high-latitude countries. There is a low incidence rate; the lesions are predominantly seen in men in their seventh decade and localized to the corneal limbus. The risk of recurrence is high, and the benign lesions have potential to progress to frank carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic 2061, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ingvild
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ramberg
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic 2061, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heegaard
authors.affiliation: Eye Pathology Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jan Ulrik
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Prause
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic 2061, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nicolai Christian
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Sjö
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic 2061, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter Bjerre
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Toft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: OSSN; conjunctiva; conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia; epidemiology; recurrence