Actinic Granuloma of the Conjunctiva: Case Series and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize the clinical and histopathologic features of actinic granuloma of the conjunctiva.

Design: Retrospective observational case series METHODS: Institutional pathology records between 2014 and 2020 were searched for all cases of conjunctival actinic granuloma. Information collected included age, sex, ocular and medical history, clinical findings, laboratory workup, treatment, follow-up, pathologic diagnosis, and histopathologic inflammation pattern.

Results: Eight eyes of 8 patients, 5 men and 3 women, with a median age of 43 years (mean 49, range 24-83) were identified. Clinical diagnosis was pterygium (n = 4, 50%), inflamed pterygium (n = 1, 13%), pterygium vs conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (n = 1, 13%), episcleritis vs inflamed pinguecula (n = 1, 13%), and scleritis vs keratoacanthoma (n = 1, 13%). Of 5 lesions with follow-up information, none recurred following excision with a median follow-up of 9 weeks (mean 19 weeks, range 1-61 weeks). Allergy/atopy was documented in 4 of 7 (57%) patients with available medical information. There were no other systemic associations. Histopathologically, actinic granuloma was associated with pterygium (n = 6, 75%) and pinguecula (n = 2, 25%). All lesions were composed predominantly of histiocytes and a variable number of foreign body-type giant cells associated with a focus of severe actinic elastosis. The inflammatory pattern was giant cell (n = 4, 50%), sarcoidal (n = 2, 25%), histiocytic (n = 1, 13%), and combined histiocytic and sarcoidal (n = 1, 13%).

Conclusion: Conjunctival actinic granuloma has diverse clinical and histopathologic manifestations, which need to be distinguished from other autoimmune, neoplastic, and infectious etiologies. This lesion frequently occurs in pre-existing pterygium and pinguecula and may be associated with allergy and atopy.