Pathological Classification and Incidence of Conjunctival Tumors in Korean Patients: Single-center Study

Abstract

Purpose: To report the pathological classification and incidence of conjunctival tumors in Korean patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 234 patients who underwent excisional biopsy of conjunctival neoplasia between January 2007 and December 2016 at Soonchunhyang University Hospital. The clinical features, histological classification, and frequency of pigmented conjunctival masses were investigated. Results: The mean age of the 234 patients who underwent excisional biopsy was 37.9 +/- 21.6 years. The most common location of conjunctival lesions was the bulbar conjunctiva in 145 patients (62%), with pigmentary lesions in 68 patients (29.2%). Most tumors were benign (n = 201, 85.9%), while 34 malignant tumors were found as follows: 71 patients (30.3%) had epithelial tumors, 67 (28.6%) had melanocytic tumors, 33 (14.1%) had lymphoid tumors, and 26 (11.1%) had lipomatous tumors. Conclusions: Most of the conjunctival tumors in Korean patients were benign. Epithelial tumors were the most common, and melanocytic tumors were less common then in Western studies. However, clinically malignant cases were not uncommon, occurring at a rate of 14.1%. Therefore, conjunctival tumors in elderly patients, lesions that are large, and the presence of a conjunctival sac are more likely to be malignant. Therefore, accurate histological diagnosis and treatment are needed.