[Keratoplasty in unsuspected corneal cancer--case report].

A carcinoma of the cornea is rare. A 48-year-old man underwent keratoplasty because of corneal dystrophy. Micro-scopic examination showed a squamous cell carcinoma that had spread over the entire cornea and had just reached the limbus. A conjunctival biopsy was performed. Histological analysis showed conjunctival tissue that was covered with normal epithelium. No carcinoma cells were evident.