Anterior segment optical coherence tomography features of ocular surface squamous epithelial hyperplasia: A report of four cases

Herein, we report the clinico-tomographic and histopathological features of four patients with biopsy-proven ocular surface squamous epithelial hyperplasia (OSSEH), a close mimicker of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). The mean age at diagnosis was 58 years (median, 60 years; range, 35–77 years). All lesions were unilateral. Isolated corneal plaque was seen in 50% (n = 2) and nodular lesion at the nasal limbus in 50% (n = 2). Keratinization was seen in 75% (n = 3) of lesions and intrinsic vessels in 75% (n = 3). A clinical diagnosis of OSSN was made in all cases. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) revealed mild epithelial hyperreflectivity in 100% (n = 4). The epithelium was normal in thickness in 75% (n = 3) and showed mild thickening in 25% (n = 1). Only 25% (n = 1) showed abrupt transition in epithelial thickness from the contiguous corneal epithelium. Histopathological examination revealed hyperplastic squamous epithelium and no cellular atypia in all cases. Stable ocular surface and no recurrences were noted at a mean follow-up of 17 months (median, 11 months; range, 2–43 months). Although OSSEH can mimic OSSN clinically, the presence of mild epithelial hyperreflectivity, lack of epithelial thickening, absence of abrupt transition from normal epithelium, and presence of subepithelial hyperreflectivity on ASOCT favor the diagnosis of OSSEH.