Pterygium

Pterygium is a common benign pathology of the eye. It is also known as surfer eye.

It is similar to pinguecula and Raizada et al.^[1] suggest pinguecula is an early pterygium; however, this is disputed.

General

Pronounced: "tuh-rij-ee-uhm".^[2]
Conjunctiva lesion that covers part of the sclera.
- Sclera = white part of the eye.^[3]
Benign.
Due to ultraviolet light exposure, i.e. sunlight.^[4]

Gross

Medial aspect of eye - covers sclera (white part) and part of the iris (coloured part).

Image:

Pterygium - gross (trialx.com).

Microscopic

Features:^[4]

Hyaline material beneath epithelium.
Elastic fibres beneath the hyaline material.
+/-Inflammation.
Solar elastosis.^[5]
- Dense gray/light brown acellular material.
Dilated vessels.^[5]

DDx:

Squamous dysplasia.
Squamous cell carcinoma.^[6]

Images

www:

Pterygium (uic.edu).

Pterygium - intermed. mag. (WC/Nephron)
Pterygium - high mag. (WC/Nephron)

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Right eye

Right Eye, Conjunctiva (Submitted as "Pterygium"), Excision:
- Conjunctival mucosa with solar elastosis and dilated superficial blood vessels, compatible with pterygium.
- NEGATIVE for dysplasia.

Inflammation present

Right Eye, Conjunctiva (Submitted as "Left Pterygium"), Excision:
- Conjunctival mucosa with solar elastosis, mild inflammation and dilated superficial blood 
  vessels, compatible with pterygium.
- NEGATIVE for dysplasia.

No solar elastosis

Right Eye, Conjunctiva (Submitted as "Right Pterygium"), Excision:
- Conjunctival mucosa with dilated superficial blood vessels and 
  benign mild stromal changes.  
- NEGATIVE for dysplasia.

Block letters

CONJUNCTIVA ("PTERYGIUM"), RIGHT, EXCISION:
- CONJUNCTIVAL MUCOSA WITH STROMAL ACTINIC CHANGES -- CONSISTENT WITH PTERYGIUM.

CONJUNCTIVA ("PTERYGIUM"), RIGHT, EXCISION:
- CONJUNCTIVAL MUCOSA WITH STROMAL ACTINIC CHANGES -- CONSISTENT WITH PTERYGIUM.
- NEGATIVE FOR DYSPLASIA.

CONJUNCTIVA ("PTERYGIUM"), RIGHT EYE, EXCISION:
- CONJUNCTIVAL MUCOSA WITH SOLAR ELASTOSIS AND DILATED SUPERFICIAL BLOOD VESSELS -- CONSISTENT WITH PTERYGIUM.
- NEGATIVE FOR DYSPLASIA.

Left eye

CONJUNCTIVA ("PTERYGIUM"), LEFT EYE, EXCISION:
- CONJUNCTIVAL MUCOSA WITH SOLAR ELASTOSIS AND DILATED SUPERFICIAL BLOOD VESSELS -- CONSISTENT WITH PTERYGIUM.
- NEGATIVE FOR DYSPLASIA.

References

↑ Raizada, IN.; Bhatnagar, NK. (Jul 1976). "Pinguecula and pterygium (a histopathological study).". Indian J Ophthalmol 24 (2): 16-8. PMID 1031388.
↑ URL: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pterygium. Accessed on: 20 October 2011
↑ URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002006/. Accessed on: 20 October 2011.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Hill, JC.; Maske, R. (1989). "Pathogenesis of pterygium.". Eye (Lond) 3 ( Pt 2): 218-26. doi:10.1038/eye.1989.31. PMID 2695353.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 URL: http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcpt/eyepath/specco4.htm. Accessed on: 25 October 2011.
↑ Clear, AS.; Chirambo, MC.; Hutt, MS. (Feb 1979). "Solar keratosis, pterygium, and squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva in Malawi.". Br J Ophthalmol 63 (2): 102-9. PMC 1043407. PMID 427069. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1043407/.

[pmid1031388-1] Raizada, IN.; Bhatnagar, NK. (Jul 1976). "Pinguecula and pterygium (a histopathological study).". Indian J Ophthalmol 24 (2): 16-8. PMID 1031388.

[2] URL: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pterygium. Accessed on: 20 October 2011

[3] URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002006/. Accessed on: 20 October 2011.

[pmid2695353-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Hill, JC.; Maske, R. (1989). "Pathogenesis of pterygium.". Eye (Lond) 3 ( Pt 2): 218-26. doi:10.1038/eye.1989.31. PMID 2695353.

[uic_edu-5] 5.0 ^5.1 URL: http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcpt/eyepath/specco4.htm. Accessed on: 25 October 2011.

[pmid427069-6] Clear, AS.; Chirambo, MC.; Hutt, MS. (Feb 1979). "Solar keratosis, pterygium, and squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva in Malawi.". Br J Ophthalmol 63 (2): 102-9. PMC 1043407. PMID 427069. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1043407/.

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