Topical interferon alpha 2 beta therapy in the management of conjunctival papilloma

Abstract 

Background

This article describes the differential diagnosis of conjunctival papillomas and reviews the treatment options with a focus on the new topical interferon alpha 2 beta therapy.

Case

A 45-year-old white man presented with a red right eye of approximately 6 months’ duration. The lesion was suspicious and suggestive of malignancy; therefore, the patient was referred for consultation. The lesion was diagnosed as a conjunctival papilloma. The patient was placed on topical interferon alpha 2 beta eye drops, and within 2 weeks he experienced complete lesion regression.

Conclusion

Interferons, in particular interferon alpha-2b (IFN-α2β), have recently been shown to be successful in treating conjunctival papillomas and conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Previously, treatment was limited to observation for asymptomatic patients. Larger lesions in symptomatic patients were treated by surgical excision and cryotherapy. Additional treatment modalities included topical antimetabolite treatment with mitomycin-C and 5-fluorouracil. These treatments, although effective, had significant attendant postsurgical complications and toxic ocular adverse reactions. Interferons represent a new successful treatment modality.

Keywords: Conjunctival papilloma, Interferon alpha 2 beta therapy, Conjunctival lesions, Conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia, Pyogenic granuloma, Squamous cell carcinoma