• Users Online: 42169
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page

   Table of Contents      
ARTICLES
Year : 1978  |  Volume : 26  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 49-50

Episcleral osseous choristoma


Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College and S.S.G. Hospital, Baroda, India

Correspondence Address:
K L Sheth
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College and S.S.G. Hospital, Baroda
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


PMID: 711279

Rights and PermissionsRights and Permissions

How to cite this article:
Sheth K L, Mathur R N, Sheth J J. Episcleral osseous choristoma. Indian J Ophthalmol 1978;26:49-50

How to cite this URL:
Sheth K L, Mathur R N, Sheth J J. Episcleral osseous choristoma. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 1978 [cited 2024 Mar 19];26:49-50. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?1978/26/1/49/31459

Episcleral osseous choristoma is a rare lesion of conjunctiva and episclera characterised by a small solitary nodule of bone surrounded by fibrous connective tissue.

'Epibulbar osteoma' was the term used by Ballantyne to describe this rare lesion, but since this lesion is always in the episcleral tissue. Zimmermann preferred to say 'Episcleral' rather than `Epibulbar'[4]

The lesion is usually located in the upper temporal quadrant about 5 to 10 m.m. from the limbus. The size is usually small but varies from small `Pea' to that of an almond. Most of these tumours are present from birth and there have been no associated ocular anomalies in any of the cases reported in the literature.

The earliest report of this lesion was, put on record as far back as in the year 1863 by von Graefe[3], since then only 26 cases have been reported. And as far as we know not a single case is reported in Indian Journal. Because of this rarity we are tempted to report our case which we came across in February 1977.


  Case report Top


A young girl of 5, came to the O.P.D. with a small nodule in the upper temporal quadrant -about 9 m.m. away from the limbus, which was noted by the parents when the child was about 3 years. The lesion was non progressive and there were no other complains.


  On examination Top


A round nodule of about 4 m.m. diameter was situated on the upper temporal quadrant, 8 m.m. away from the limbus.

The colour of the nodule was yellowish white and was not surrounded by blood vessels. It was firm in consistency and was fixed to sclera.

The conjunctiva over it was free.

Except this nodule, the eye was normal externally.

Fundus showed no abnormality.

The provisional diagnosis was `probable dermoid'. The patient was admitted for excision of the nodule.

The excised nodule was sent for histopathological examination.

Histopathological report

Microscopic examination showed Haversian canals surrounded by mature compact bone.

It was microscopic examination which gave us the final diagnosis `Osseous choristoma'.


  Discussion Top


Hartride, Parsons and Duke Elder[2] believed this tumour as 'teratoma'; but according to definition teratoma is a true tumour or neoplasm comprised of multiple tissues of kinds foreign to the part in which it arises.

Of course the subscleral osseous choristoma contains bone which is foreign to the conjunc­tiva, but this satisfied only half the definition. In all the cases, reported so far, it was only bone and no other tissue was found.

It is also not the solid episcleral dermoid because of the following reasons.

1. About 30% of the epibulbar dermoids are associated with congenital anomaly of the eye or rest of the body.

2. None of the epibulbar dermoids reported so far has been found to contain bone, where as episcleral osteomas are composed entirely of mature compact bone with no epidermoid structures.

3. Almost all the cases of osseous choris­toma reported so far were found in the upper temporal or temporal quadrant, while the der­moids may be situated in any quadrant, although the temporal quadrant is also site for dermoid.

According to Reese these[3] lesions represent an atavistic phenomenon since cartilage and even bone are normal constituents of the sclera of many lower vertebrates.


  Summary Top


A rare case of episcleral osseous choristoma is reported.

 
  References Top

1.
Ballanniyne, AJ., 1940, Ophthalmological, 99, 87.   Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Duke-Elder, W S , 1958, System of Ophthal­mology St. Lonis, Mosby, V.I., 317.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Reese A.B., 1951, Tumours of the Eye, New York, Hoebar, p. 450.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Willis, R.A., 1948, Pathology of Tumours, St. Lovis Mosby, p. 940.  Back to cited text no. 4
    


    Figures

  [Figure - 1], [Figure - 2]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
    Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
    Access Statistics
    Email Alert *
    Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)  

 
  In this article
Case report
On examination
Discussion
Summary
References
Article Figures

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed1946    
    Printed80    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded0    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal