Skip to main content
. 2013 Feb 28;2013(2):CD005643. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005643.pub3

1. 2 Interventions used in treatment of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma.

Intervention Description Reference
Surgical excision Alcohol epitheliectomy for the corneal component and partial lamellar scleroconjunctivectomy with 3 to 4mm margins for the conjunctival component. Frozen sections may be used to ensure tumour‐free margins. Modified enucleation involves removing the affected conjunctiva with a 4mm margin together with the eyeball. Exenteration involves complete removal of orbital tissue including the periosteum of the bony walls. The eyelids may or may not be spared. Shields 1997Shields 2004
Cryotherapy Freeze‐thaw‐freeze‐thaw (double freeze‐thaw) applying probe to the excised conjunctival margin. Peksayar 1989
Chemotherapy 
 
 ‐ 5 Fluorouracil (5FU) 1% solution 
 
 ‐ Mitomycin C 0.02% or 0.04% As topical solutions to soak operated site for 2‐5 minutes, as subconjunctival injection intra‐ or post operatively or as eyedrops to be applied post‐operatively as follows 
 
 4 times daily for 1‐2 weeks or as pulsed therapy giving 4 applications for 4 days repeated every month for 4‐6 cycles 
 
 4 times daily for 2 weeks then repeat at 4‐6 weeks intervals depending on response Yeatts 2000Midena 2000Frucht‐Pery 1997
Radiotherapy ‐ beta irradiation 
 ‐ gamma irradiation 
 ‐ photodynamic therapy Cerezo 1990Goldberg 1963Barbazetto 2004
Amniotic membrane transplants (AMT) Excise tumour with a 3‐4 mm tumour‐free margin (so frozen sections needed), apply cryotherapy to the margin then to close the defect suture amniotic membrane with 8/0 vicryl sutures to adjacent conjunctiva and to adjacent cornea using 10/0 nylon sutures with epithelial side facing up. Gunduz 2005
Interferon alpha 2b Topical drops or intralesion injection Karp 2001
Cidofovir eyedrops 2mg/ml Applied every 2 hours for 2 weeks then 4 times daily for 2 weeks then 3 times daily for 2 weeks Sherman 2002