Pinguecula and actinic elastosis. An ultrastructural study

Three cases of pinguecula (conjunctival elastosis) were ultrastructurally investigated. Findings were compared with the features described in cutaneous actinic elastosis. Changes observed were not uniform. In both diseases, numerous elastotoc fibers were present with a finely granular matrix and masses of dense grains. The degenerative changes of the elastotic fibers evolved differently in conjunctival stroma and in dermis. The superficial extracellular concretions observed in pinguecula seemed to be an ultimate stage of elastotic degeneration. Like actinic elastosis and elastosis observed in chronic radiodermatitis, pinguecula is believed to result from a dystrophic increased elastogenesis induced by chronic irradiation, with secondary degenerative changes.