Removal of conjunctival cyst with high-frequency radio-wave electrosurgery

To introduce a new simple surgical approach for removal of conjunctival cysts with high-frequency radio-wave electrosurgery.

Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series analysis.

Twenty-one eyes of 21 patients.

Symptomatic conjunctival cysts, which did not show improvement despite conventional medical management or other surgical procedures were included. The conjunctival cysts were treated using a high-frequency radio-wave electrosurgical unit (Ellman Surgitron; Ellman International Inc, Oceanside, N.Y.). The conjunctiva surrounding the conjunctival cyst was grasped and lifted up using a smooth forcep and a fine-needle electrode (Ellman Insulated Needle Electrodes D6A; Ellman International Inc) was inserted into the cyst. A power setting of 0.5 to 1 was used for coagulation of cysts, without charring the tissue.

After surgery, none of the patients had recurrence of conjunctival cysts during the follow-up period of 6 months, and symptoms also disappeared. The surgery did not exceed 5 minutes in all cases, and subconjunctival hemorrhage was observed in 1 case. Subconjunctival hemorrhage had completely resolved within 2 weeks and no other complications were observed.

A surgical approach with high-frequency radio-wave electrosurgery successfully removed conjunctival cysts and produced improvement in symptoms. High-frequency radio-wave surgical techniques might be a favourable alternative to surgical treatment of conjunctival cysts.