Management of intraepithelial conjunctival tumors and squamous cell carcinomas.

We compared the effects of excision, extensive freezing with a liquid nitrogen spray, and combined therapy with excision and superficial freezing with a liquid nitrogen probe on intraepithelial conjunctival tumors. After follow-up periods of at least 36 months, excision and extensive freezing produced recurrence rates similar to those previously reported (two of six lesions treated with excision alone recurred and three of nine treated with extensive freezing recurred), but excision combined with superficial freezing produced a recurrence rate of only 8% (two of 23 lesions recurred), almost three times better than any previously reported. Both lesions recurred in patients who had undergone previous therapy.