Eye

Conjunctiva

Epithelial tumors

Spindle cell carcinoma-conjunctiva



Last author update: 1 September 2013
Last staff update: 10 June 2022

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PubMed Search: Spindle cell carcinoma conjunctiva

Nat Pernick, M.D.
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Cite this page: Pernick N. Spindle cell carcinoma-conjunctiva. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/eyeconjspindlecell.html. Accessed September 26th, 2023.
Definition / general
  • Rare but more aggressive than squamous cell carcinoma
  • Elderly patients
Treatment
  • Complete excision
  • May recur or invade sclera or intraocular contents
Gross description
  • Elevated or flat, smooth surface, red
  • Arises from limbus or bulbar conjunctiva
Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Spindle cells are continuous with surface epithelium
  • Have oval vesicular nuclei with large eosinophilic or basophilic nucleoli
  • Often transition to squamous cells with individual cell keratinization
  • Also acanthosis, mitotic activity, desmoplasia, variable dysplasia
Microscopic (histologic) images

AFIP images
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Sarcomatous pattern

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Deep scleral and corneal invasion

Positive stains
Electron microscopy description
  • Desmosomes, tonofibrils
Differential diagnosis
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