The pathologic findings of epithelial ingrowth
E. Y. Zavala and P. S. Binder
A case of postcataract epithelial ingrowth that occurred when a chronic
fistula was produced after a discussion of a secondary membrane is
reported. The ingrowth was examined preoperatively with the specular
microscope, and the excised anterior segment was examined with correlative
microscopy. The patient recovered 6/18 (20/60) visual acuity after a
subsequent penetrating keratoplasty. The characteristics of the epithelial
ingrowth consisted of nonkeratinized squamous epithelium with surface
microvilli, wide intercellular borders with occasional desmosomes, multiple
tonofilaments more prominent in the leading edge of the ingrowth,
hemidesmosomes attached to a subepithelial connective tissue layer, and
uneven sizes and shapes of epithelial cells. These findings suggested that
the source of the ingrowth was from the conjunctival epithelium. We found
the leading edge of the ingrowth as well as the type of damage inflicted to
the underlying endothelium.
