Stevens-Johnson Syndrome as a Risk Factor for Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia in a Pediatric Patient

TL;DR

A rare case shows that Stevens-Johnson syndrome can lead to eye cancer in a teenager, highlighting the role of chronic inflammation and immune issues.

Contribution

This case report is the first to link Stevens-Johnson syndrome with ocular surface squamous neoplasia in a pediatric patient.

Findings

Stevens-Johnson syndrome can cause limbal stem cell deficiency and chronic inflammation, leading to OSSN.

Topical interferon alpha-2b successfully treated the neoplasia in this patient.

Immune dysregulation from SJS disrupts ocular homeostasis and promotes cancerous changes.

Abstract

This report describes a rare case of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) developing in the aftermath of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). A 15-year-old female patient, who had previously experienced an episode of SJS triggered by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), developed limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) and was subsequently diagnosed with OSSN in the setting of chronic ocular surface inflammation. She was treated successfully with topical immunotherapy using interferon alpha-2b. This case highlights the pivotal role of chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation in driving neoplastic transformation of the ocular surface. In particular, severe immune-mediated disorders such as SJS can disrupt corneal homeostasis and establish a pro-oncogenic microenvironment that fosters dysplasia and neoplastic progression.

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