Posters

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia treated with interferon alpha-2b in a case of xeroderma pigmentosum case report

Poster Details

First Author: L.Galletero Pandelo SPAIN

Co Author(s):    L. Galletero Pandelo   C. Rodríguez Vidal   L. Giralt Peret   I. Charcan Laskibar   R. Feijóo Lera   N. Martínez-Alday     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To report the clinical course of a patient affected by xeroderma pigmentosum with ocular surface squamous neoplasia, and also to evaluate the short term results of the topical treatment interferon α-2b (IFNα2b) after local excision of the tumor.

Setting:

Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Bilbao, Spain.

Methods:

Two sisters, 10 and 15 years old, diagnosed with xeroderma pigmentosum, are referred to our service to study conjunctival lesions suspected of malignancy. At the time of the exploration, the younger sister presented preptysis of the right eye as a result of an epidermoid carcinoma operated six times in her country (Tangier). Likewise, skin lesions compatible with the disease were observed in both patients without systemic involvement.Given the exponential growth observed during the first month in the younger girl’s lesion, she was treated with interferon α-2b eye drops prior to surgical excision, and biopsies were taken in both patients.

Results:

The anatomopathologic study showed a well-differentiated infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma in the younger sister, so it was decided to extend the margins of the lesion and administer topical mitomycin in a second surgery. The ocular surface was restored using amniotic membrane and a postoperative treatment based on interferon was carried out. During follow-up, no signs of recurrence were observed and, as a final result, visual acuity progressed favourably reaching 0.6. Moreover, her sister’s results showed findings compatible with melanosis and conjunctival nevi.

Conclusions:

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare genetic disorder characterized by defective DNA repair, leading to premature sunlight-induced damage. Ophthalmological changes are described in 40% of patients, these include ectropion, conjunctival melanosis, corneal scarring, pterygium and different types of cancers, so any suspected lesions should be evaluated. Furthermore, topical IFNα-2b treatment contributed to suppression of tumor recurrence and improvement of quality of vision in our patient after local resection of ocular surface squamous neoplasia, so it could be considered an effective alternative as adjunctive treatment in these patients.

Financial Disclosure:

None