Conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia occurring in young patients with asthma

Conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) typically occurs in elderly individuals. A number of aetiological factors are implicated in CIN, including life-long exposure to ultra-violet light and immunodeficiency states, particularly HIV infection. Asthma is a common condition affecting more than 3.5 million individuals in the UK, and is associated with atopy in approximately 70% of cases. In this paper we describe CIN occurring in young patients with asthma.

Retrospective case series: A review of our ocular oncology database helped to identify 11 patients<55 years of age and presenting with CIN. Of these, seven (64%) were noted to have co-existent asthma.

Seven patients were included in the study (six male and one female). Mean age at presentation was 44 years (range 36-54 years). Five patients showed unilateral disease, whereas two showed bilateral. Five patients showed local recurrence; however, there were no cases of metastasis.

The occurrence of CIN, particularly bilateral CIN, in younger immunocompetent individuals is very unusual, and the presence of asthma in 64% of our patient cohort suggests that atopic asthma may be a further aetiological factor involved in the development of this rare neoplasm.