Eye
Conjunctiva
Epithelial tumors
Spindle cell carcinoma-conjunctiva
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 1 September 2013
Last staff update: 10 June 2022
Copyright: 2004-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Spindle cell carcinoma conjunctiva
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Treatment | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Positive stains | Electron microscopy description | Differential diagnosis | Additional referencesCite this page: Pernick N. Spindle cell carcinoma-conjunctiva. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/eyeconjspindlecell.html. Accessed May 30th, 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
Sarcomatous pattern
Deep scleral and corneal invasion
Electron microscopy description
- Desmosomes, tonofibrils
Differential diagnosis
- Atypical fibroxanthoma
- Exuberant granulation tissue
- MFH
- Spindle cell melanoma
Additional references
