Clinical features and factors affecting prognosis and partial deterioration of ocular papilloma: a retrospective study of 298 cases

PurposeThis study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological features of ocular papilloma, a common benign tumor, and the risk factors related to its recurrence and partial deterioration.MethodsWe collected and analyzed the clinical information of 298 patients (51.68% males) with mean age of 41.54 +/- 21.95 years, in the ophthalmology department of the West China Hospital. Clinical and pathological factors that might be related to papilloma recurrence and partial deterioration were studied.ResultsThe top three papilloma sites were bulbar conjunctiva, eyelid skin and palpebral conjunctiva. Moreover, 3.59% of lesions presented a malignant transformation, and 16.28% of patients had one or more recurrences after an average follow-up of 4.47 years. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that multiple lesions were a risk factor for recurrence (p = 0.022, OR = 3.088, 95% CI: 1.180-8.079), while cryotherapy decreased the recurrence risk (p = 0.044, OR = 0.364, 95% CI: 0.136-0.972). Additionally, elderly patients and lesions on the corneal limbus or cornea had a higher risk of malignant transformation (p = 0.004 and 0.01, OR = 1.086 and 7.827, 95% CI: 1.027-1.150 and 1.629-37.596, respectively).ConclusionOcular papilloma usually occurs in middle-aged and young patients, with no significant gender differences. Older patients and lesions on the corneal limbus or cornea are risk factors for partial malignant transformation. Finally, multiple lesions were a risk factor for recurrence, and cryotherapy reduced the recurrence rate.