Autologous limbus conjunctival flap transplantation for pterygium accompaniedwith conjunctival cyst

Abstract:

AIM: To observe the efficacy of surgical excision combined with autologous limbus conjunctival flap transplantation in the treatment of pterygium accompanied with conjunctival cyst.

METHODS: Totally 126 patients 188 eyes with pterygium were hospitalized in Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology during August 2013 and August 2015. The patients were divided into two groups: observation group(11 eyes of 11 patients)with pterygium accompanied with conjunctival cyst and control group(177 eyes of 115 patients)with primary pterygium. All patients underwent slit lamp microscope examination, anterior segment photography, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography(OCT). The size of pterygium was calculated by multiplying neck width and length of the covered corneal. All patients underwent excision combined with autologous conjunctival flap transplantation, and the resections were performed pathological section with hematoxylin and eosin staining. All patients were followed up postoperatively for 4-28mo.

RESULTS: All cases in the observation group were confirmed by postoperative pathological examination. All cyst walls were complete, and containing single layer of epithelial cells. The mean size of pterygium of the observation group was 6.9±1.7mm², and 6.3±1.8mm² for the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). The mean postoperative healing time of observation group was 2.1±0.9d, and 1.9±0.8d for the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). Recurrence was seen in two eyes within the follow-up period in the control group, and no recurrence in the observation group.

CONCLUSION: Surgical excision combined with autologous limbus conjunctival flap transplantation is a safe and effective treatment for pterygium accompanied with conjunctival cyst.

Key words:autologous limbus conjunctival flap transplantation; pterygium; conjunctival cyst