Premalignant and Malignant Ocular Surface Squamous Cell Neoplasia: A Retrospective Hospital-Based Study Spanning 18 Years

Ocular surface squamous cell neoplasia can arise from a premalignant lesion (conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia or ocular surface squamous cell intraepithelial neoplasia). Their respective magnitudes will provide an indication of early treatment or progression of the disease. This study, therefore, aims to determine the frequency of premalignant and malignant ocular surface squamous neoplasia. This is a retrospective study of all cases of premalignant and malignant ocular surface squamous neoplastic lesions histologically diagnosed over an 18-year period at the Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The results showed that there were more malignant ocular surface squamous neoplastic lesions relative to ocular surface squamous cell intraepithelial neoplastic lesions. Also, the latter occurs at a relatively lower median age in comparison to the former. In conclusion, our findings suggest that late presentation of symptoms may account for higher frequency of malignant ocular surface squamous neoplastic lesions.