Clinicopathological analysis of conjunctival lymphangiectasia
10.3980/j.issn.1672-5123.2026.7.28
- VernacularTitle:结膜淋巴管扩张症的临床病理分析
- Author:
Jie RAN
1
;
Duosheng XIA
1
;
Fuli WANG
1
;
Xuandi SU
1
;
Lele ZHENG
1
;
Yujin WANG
1
Author Information
1. Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
conjunctival lymphangiectasia;
immunohistochemistry;
anterior segment optical coherence tomography
- From:
International Eye Science
2026;26(7):1276-1280
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
AIM: To analyze the pathological features, immunophenotype, and imaging findings of conjunctival lymphangiectasia(CL), and to explore the etiological mechanisms and provide a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS:This single-center descriptive cross-sectional study enrolled postoperative specimens from patients with CL who underwent surgical treatment in the hospital between Feb. 2023 and Sept. 2025. Routine hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining and immunohistochemical staining(D2-40, CD31, CD34, CK)were performed. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT)was used to observe the lesion morphology. The pathological results were comprehensively analyzed combined with clinical data. RESULTS: A total of postoperative specimens from 32 eyes of 32 patients with CL were enrolled, including 23 females(72%)and 9 males(28%), with a mean age of 53.03±12.47 y. All patients presented with single or multiple transparent cystic elevations beneath the bulbar conjunctiva. The postoperative pathological manifestations were characterized by dilation of conjunctival lymphatic vessels lined with a single layer of flattened endothelial cells, accompanied by edema and inflammatory infiltration in the surrounding stroma. All cases were positive for D2-40, confirming a lymphatic origin; some cases also expressed CD31 and CD34. AS-OCT revealed the lesions as unilocular or multilocular cystic spaces with low reflectivity. After complete surgical resection, the mean follow-up period was 16.2 mo with no recurrence.CONCLUSION:CL is a benign ocular surface lesion characterized by lymphatic vessel dilation. The endothelium co-expresses lymphatic and some vascular markers, suggesting that CL may belong to the spectrum of vascular malformations. AS-OCT has adjunctive diagnostic value, and surgical resection has definitive therapeutic efficacy.
