Conjunctival biopsies and ophthalmic lesions: A histopathologic study in eastern India

Background: the conjunctiva is a thin and flexible mucus membrane that provides a protective barrier to the eye. very few histopathologic studies have been conducted on conjunctival biopsies in eastern india. materials and methods: 120 conjunctival biopsies from 117 patients (76 males, 41 females) received during 8 years (january 2003–december 2010) were included in this study. results: histologic diagnoses were: degenerative lesions in 38 cases (31.66%), benign epithelial lesions in 23 cases (19.16%), premalignant and malignant epithelial lesions in 27 cases (22.5%), melanocytic lesions in 10 cases (8.33%), lymphoid in 7 cases (5.83%), and miscellaneous in 15 cases (12.5%). conclusion: squamous papilloma was the commonest benign tumor, whereas the commonest malignant tumor was squamous cell carcinoma. melanocytic lesions were less prevalent compared to other/western studies.