CASE REPORTS: Two 19-year-old patients presented with small nasal conjunctival tumors. Histologic examination revealed subepithelial tumors consisting of large cells with deeply basophilic, small, centrally-placed nuclei and abundant, slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm with microvesicles. Electron microscopy showed premelanosomes in some of the balloon cells. CONCLUSION: The balloon cell nevus is a rare variant of the conjunctival nevi. The characteristic intracellular microvesicles are probably degenerative remnants of premelanosomes.
CASE REPORTS: Two 19-year-old patients presented with small nasal conjunctival tumors. Histologic examination revealed subepithelial tumors consisting of large cells with deeply basophilic, small, centrally-placed nuclei and abundant, slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm with microvesicles. Electron microscopy showed premelanosomes in some of the balloon cells. CONCLUSION: The balloon cell nevus is a rare variant of the conjunctival nevi. The characteristic intracellular microvesicles are probably degenerative remnants of premelanosomes.