Conjunctival and Corneal Tumors: Examination Techniques

Conjunctival and corneal tumors are usually recognized at a relatively early stage because they are so readily visible. Slit-lamp examination by an experienced ophthalmologist can often provide a reliable diagnosis. All lesions, including their margins, should be documented photographically. Ancillary studies such as high-frequency ultrasound, anterior segment optical coherence tomography(OCT), and confocal microscopy have become popular. Definitive diagnosis of ocular surface tumors requires histology, usually with immunohistochemistry. In recent years, genetic testing of the excised tissue has been performed in some centers. The scope of sentinel lymph node biopsy requires further investigation.