Abstract

Volume.118 Number.8

Original article : Clinical science

Investigation of Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Treatment for Conjunctival Epithelial Inclusion Cyst
Keiko Yamada1, Norihiko Yokoi1, Hiroaki Kato1, Nobuhiro Terao1,2, Kazuichi Maruyama1,3, Shigeru Kinoshita1
1 Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Fukuchiyama City Hospital
3 Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment in eyes with conjunctival epithelial inclusion cysts (CEIC).
Methods: This study involved the retrospective, medical-record-based investigation of 37 eyes of 34 patients diagnosed with CEIC by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).
Results: CEIC were found most commonly in the nasal area of the conjunctiva (64.9%). Thirteen eyes (35.1%) had more than 1 cyst, and 10 eyes (27.0%) had a past history of punctures. Adhesion (9 eyes) between cyst and surrounding connective tissues was found to be significantly more in eyes with a puncture history (5 eyes; p=0.0234, Fisher's exact test). Complete excision of cysts through a small conjunctival incision could be performed significantly more often among the 28 eyes without adhesion than in the 9 eyes with adhesion (p=0.002). Pathological examination of the cysts indicated that they involved goblet cells in 16 eyes and mild inflammation in 4 eyes, consistent with the findings in previous reports.
Conclusion: CEIC are predominantly found in the nasal area of the conjunctiva. In eyes without puncture history, adhesion of cysts to the surrounding tissues was rarely observed and cysts were successfully excised "en bloc" via minimally invasive surgery.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 118: 652-657, 2014.

Key words
Conjunctival epithelial inclusion cysts (CEICs), Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT), Minimally invasive surgery, Goblet cells
Reprint requests to
Norihiko Yokoi, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. 465 Kajii-cho, Hirokoji-agaru, Kawaramachi-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan