The pathology of tumours at the limbus

The histopathology of tumours originating at the corneoscleral limbus is reviewed with special reference to some 636 specimens examined over a 40 year period at the Institute of Ophthalmology, London. Over half the lesions involved melanocytes (351 cases) derived from the limbal conjunctiva and of these two-thirds were benign naevi. Conversely, benign squamous cell tumours were rare, only five unequivocal papillomas having been seen compared with 137 premalignant lesions and 73 carcinomas. Solid dermoids accounted for approximately 10 per cent of all tumours involving the limbus.