Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) encompasses a range of dysplastic changes from mild dysplasia to invasive carcinoma. This research aims to elucidate the cytomorphological spectrum of OSSN in the elderly age group and correlate these findings with clinical and pathological features. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on elderly patients (>60 years) diagnosed with OSSN over a 5 year period. Cytological and histopathological findings were analyzed and correlated with clinical data. RESULTS: The cytomorphological spectrum of OSSN in the elderly age group exhibited a broad range of cellular changes, from mild dysplasia to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The predominant cytological features included increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, pleomorphism, and abnormal mitotic figures. Clinically, OSSN presented most commonly as a unilateral conjunctival mass with a history of chronic irritation. Histopathologically, there was a significant correlation between the degree of dysplasia and the depth of invasion (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This research highlights the diverse cytomorphological spectrum of OSSN in the elderly age groups and emphasizes the importance of comprehensive clinicopathological correlation for accurate diagnosis and management. The predominant cytological features observed, including increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, pleomorphism, and abnormal mitotic figures, reflect the underlying dysplastic alterations and provide valuable insights into the diagnosis and the classification of OSSN. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential role of impression cytology in the diagnosis and management of OSSN and to evaluate the efficacy of different treatment modalities in the elderly age group.