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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
A Non-invasive Way to Isolate and Phenotype Cells from the Conjunctiva
Published on: July 5, 2017
Impression cytology features of conjunctival nevi reported as more noticeable
Jeison de Nadai Barros1, Márcia Serva Lowen, Vera Lucia Degaspare Monte Mascaro
1Departamento de Oftalmologia, Instituto da Visão, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brasil. jeisonbarros@hotmail.com
Purpose:
To report the impression cytology features of conjunctival nevi reported as more noticeable.
Methods:
35 patients who reported that a conjunctival lesion had become more noticeable after color or size change were enrolled. On slit-lamp examination, a clinical diagnosis of nevus was made and lesions underwent impression cytology using acetate cellulose strips and a combined staining with PAS, H&E and Papanicolaou. At patient's or parents' request, excision of the lesion was performed and the tissue was submitted to histopathological study.
Results:
Impression cytology examination revealed nests or cluster of nevus cells within the epithelium layer containing or not mucous-secreting goblet cells in 32 cases (91.4%). Ten patients (28.5%) had the tumor removed and histopathological diagnosis was compound nevus in 8 eyes (1 from caruncle, 1 from plica semilunaris and 6 from bulbar conjunctiva) and subepithelial nevus from bulbar conjunctiva (2 eyes).
Conclusion:
Optical microscopy analysis of the impression cytology specimens confirmed the clinical diagnosis by demonstrating typical histopathological features of the superficial layers from conjunctival nevi in 91.4% of the cases. For amelanotic nevi IC can also allow a differential diagnosis from other nonpigmented lesions. The technique does not replace histopathological examination, but additionally, may assist in evaluating nevus cells in children and adults.
