[Intracorneal granulomatous inflammation]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Surgery
• Pathology

Background:

• Lattice corneal dystrophy is a hereditary condition affecting the cornea.
• Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) is a surgical procedure used to treat corneal irregularities.

Observation:

• A 33-year-old man with lattice corneal dystrophy developed an intracorneal tumor 8 months after PTK.
• No history of foreign body injury or clear cause for the tumor was identified.

Findings:

• Histological examination of the excised tumor revealed a dense inflammatory infiltrate.
• The infiltrate included epithelioid cells, histiocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophilic leukocytes, and Touton giant cells.
• No signs of generalized granulomatous inflammation were present.

Implications:

• This case presents a rare monosymptomatic intracorneal granulomatous infiltration.
• The granuloma's occurrence months after PTK, without a clear link, is unusual.
• Potential diagnoses include xanthogranuloma or sarcoidosis, though a pathogenetic connection to PTK is unlikely.