Excision and cryosurgery in the treatment of conjunctival malignant epithelial tumours

To evaluate the long-term results of combined treatment with excision and cryosurgery for malignant epithelial tumours of the conjunctiva.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with conjunctival malignant epithelial tumours and treated with excision and cryosurgery between 1980 and 1998. The demographic features of the patients, characteristics of the tumours, and the peculiarities of the recurrences were recorded. The SPSS V 9.05 computed program was used for the statistical analysis of the results. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to determine the recurrence-free survival, and the logrank test was used to compare the recurrences according to histological classification.

A total of 55 subjects (57 eyes), 19 female and 36 male, were included in the study. Their ages ranged between 15 and 82 years (mean 55+/-14 years). Histological diagnosis was conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in 26 (46%) and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the conjunctiva in 31 eyes (54%). All eyes were treated with excision and cryosurgery with nitrous oxide probe. During the follow-up period of 6 months to 15 years, seven (12.3%) recurrences were observed. The success rate for patients with CIN and invasive SCC was 88.5 and 87.1%, respectively. There was no difference for recurrence rates between CIN and invasive SCC groups according to logrank test (P=0.68).

Over the long-term follow-up, cryosurgery following excision is a successful method in the treatment of conjunctival intraepithelial tumours and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of conjunctiva with favourable outcome and minimal complications.