Microsoft Word - Mazhar U Zaman Soomro Case Report


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Case Report 
 

Squamous Cell Carcinoma 
 
Mazhar-U-Zaman Soomro, Rao Rashad Qamar 

 
Pak J Ophthalmol 2006, Vol. 22 No. 3 

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See end of article for 
authors affiliations 
 
…..……………………….. 
 

Corrrespondence to: 
Mazhar U Zaman Soomro 
Shifa Eye Clinic 
9-A, Model Town, Khan Pur 
District R.Y. Khan 
 

Received for publication 
April’ 2006 
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38 years old young man presented with mass on the temporal side of cornea in 
the interpelpebral fissure area with symptom of only irritation in the right eye. 
On excision biopsy, mass turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma of the 
conjunctiva. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

quamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor 
characterized by invasion of basement 
membrane by malignant cells or distant 

metastasis. When it does not involve basement 
membrane it is called squamous cell carcinoma in situ. 
Squamous cell carcinoma is believed to arise from 
limbal stem cell and present a mass in the 
interpelpebral fissure at temporal or nasal limbus. It 
occur commonly in elderly people. But may occur in 
younger people. 

CASE REPORT 
A male patient 38 years consulted the clinic with 
irritation in his right eye. On examination his vision 
was 6/6 in both eyes.. On slit lamp examination there 
was a mass about 3x4 mm on temporal side of 
interpelpebral fissure in the vicinity of limbus. It has 
gelatinous appearance with corrugated surface feeded 
by blood vessels. Anterior chamber was quite. Fundus 
examination revealed no abnormality. Regional lymph 
nodes were impalpable. Patient was explained about 

 

Before surgical 
intervention

 

S 



162 
 

 

After surgical intervention 
the possibilities of the lesion and consent was obtained 
for excision. Mass along with surrounding conjunctiva 
was excised under topical anesthesia and sent for 
histopathology and report revealed squamous cell 
carcinoma. 

 
DISCUSSION 
Epithelial tumor of conjunctiva is similar to cervical 
intraepithelial tumor (CIN). Squamous cell carcinoma 
manifest unilateral localized patch of redness, a mass 
with gelatinous appearance or diffuse conjunctivitis. 
Due to its variable appearance, it may pose a 
diagnostic challenge as a masquerade syndrome. It is 
more common in Caucasian people having male (75%) 
dominance, elderly tendency as more common after 60 
years. purported causes of sqaumous cell carcinoma of 
conjunctiva are excessive ultraviolet light, human 
papiloma virus type 16, long standing inflammation, 
chronic wear of contact lenses and cigarette smoking. 
Morbidity is related primarily involvement of 
conjunctiva and cornea. Distant metastasis is possible. 
Death may occur due to intracranial spread. 
Squamous cell carcinoma should be differentiated 
from other local causes like pterygium, pingecula 
cancer like conditions like squamous cell carcinoma, 
basal cell carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Dermoid. 
Once there is suspicion about squamous cell 
carcinoma, lesion should be excised and sent for 
histopathology. Recurrence rate is 50% after 
incomplete excision and 10% for completely excised 

lesion. Prognosis is reasonably good for completely 
excised lesion. 

Patient should be informed about the entity and 
recurrence even after years. So patient should have 
routine follow-up. 

 
Author’s affiliation 

Dr. Mazhar U Zaman Soomro 
Shifa Eye Clinic 
9-A, Model Town 
Teh. Khan Pur 
District Rahim Yar Khan 

Dr. Rao Rashad Qamar 
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology 
Bahawal Victoria Hospital 
Bahawalpur 

 
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masquerading as chronic blaphroconjuctivitis. Cornea 1999; 18: 
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2. Erie JC, Campbell RJ, Liesigang TJ. Conjuctival and corneal 
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3. Fraunfelder FT, Wingfield DL. Management of intraepithelial 
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Am J Ophthalmol. 1983; 95: 359. 

4. Shields JA, Shields CL, Gunduz K. The 1998 Pan American 
lecture. Intraocular invasion of squamous cell carcinoma in five 
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5. Shields JA, Shields CL, DePotter P. surgical management of 
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