Conjunctival Candidiasis Mimicking Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia
Abstract PurposeTo report a case of conjunctival candidiasis mimicking ocular surface squamous neoplasia. Case presentationA 71-year-old man presented with a history of persistent redness, swelling and watering in the left eye accompanying an enlarging mass in the conjunctiva. He underwent excisional biopsy which showed granulomatous inflammation accompanied by irregular and atypical squamous epithelium hyperplasia. Periodic acid-Schiff stain and methenamine silver stain revealed a fungi infection. Further secretion smear was performed to clarify the pathogen as Candida albicans and a chronic fungal maxillary sinusitis was found through imaging test. Thus a diagnosis of conjunctival candidiasis was made.ConclusionsConjunctivitis caused by fungi is rare and a trigger such as agriculture trauma, immunocompromise state, contact history to fungal environment or contaminated water or infection of adjacent organs occurs in most cases. We report the case not only to share diagnostic and treatment experience, but also describe the unique histopathological manifestation leading to a speculation that chronic fungal or candida albicans infection might induce squamous metaplasia.