Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the conjunctiva is a cancer on the surface of the eye that tends to occur in older
people (average age of diagnosis is 60 years), and young adults (30-40 years) with HIV/AIDS.
Clinical features
- Eye irritation, discomfort or foreign body sensation
- Red eye
- Growth/tumour on eyeball that may exhibit the following features:
- Leucoplakic (white), flesh-coloured or red patch
- Rounded, elevated growth with a gel-like appearance
- Large dilated blood vessels leading to the tumour
- In early disease, the tumour often appears in the bulbar conjunctiva nasally, temporally or at the limbus
NB: Squamous cell carcinoma should be suspected in cases of chronic conjunctivitis that lasts longer than 3 months.
Investigations
- Excision (total) biopsy for histopathological examination
Differential diagnosis
- Pterygium, solar keratosis, pinguecula
Management
- Refer patient to ophalmologist and eventually to cancer treatment center