Background: We report a rare case of supernumerary caruncle.
Case: An 11-year-old boy presented with a conjunctival mass in his left lower eyelid. His general condition was normal, without any other auricular anomalies or systemic abnormalities. Two years later, he suffered a foreign body sensation in his left eye. Numerous sebaceous glands opened at the surface of the mass, and a fine hair was noted on the surface. The mass was excised by open treatment, and the patient had complete resolution of symptoms, which has continued over 4 months of follow-up. A histopathological examination revealed a structure similar to a normal caruncle, with layers of stratified epithelium, pilosebaceous units, goblet cells, hair follicles, fat, and smooth muscle fibers.
Conclusion: The mass was considered to be a supernumerary caruncle, and may be similar to a choristoma histopathologically. This case is thought to be the first report of supernumerary caruncle in Japan.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 117: 438-442, 2013.