Successful management of conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia by interferon alpha-2b.

BACKGROUND: Interferon alpha-2b (IFN alpha 2b) was recently shown to be effective as an alternative therapy for conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Herein, we report our successful management of CIN by the use of IFN alpha 2b. CASE: A 73-year-old woman presented with a complaint of irritation due to a tumorous lesion in her left eye. Slit-lamp microscope examination revealed a tumorous lesion involving the bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva as well as the limbus, from the 3-o'clock position to the 8-o'clock position. She had already undergone cryotherapy in the same eye in another hospital, twice for a lesion on the lower tarsal conjunctiva and once for a lesion on the upper tarsal conjunctiva. The histological diagnosis had been CIN. OBSERVATIONS: In treating this patient, IFN alpha 2b was injected subconjunctivally twice and also applied as eye drops for 12 weeks. Two weeks after the initial treatment, the tumorous lesion disappeared. During a 1-year follow-up period, no recurrence was noted.
CONCLUSION: Topical and subconjunctival IFN alpha 2b is a valuable treatment option for CIN.