Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM) of Biological Tissue Samples
Published on: March 26, 2021
[Conjunctival balloon cell nevi--light- and electronmicroscopic findings in 2 patients]
M Budde1, U Schlötzer-Schrehardt, C Hofmann-Rummelt
1Augenklinik mit Poliklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen.
Case Reports:
Two 19-year-old patients presented with small nasal conjunctival tumors. Histologic examination revealed subepithelial tumors consisting of large cells with deeply basophilic, small, centrally-placed nuclei and abundant, slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm with microvesicles. Electron microscopy showed premelanosomes in some of the balloon cells.
Conclusion:
The balloon cell nevus is a rare variant of the conjunctival nevi. The characteristic intracellular microvesicles are probably degenerative remnants of premelanosomes.
