Report of a primary lymphoma of the conjunctiva. A lymphoma of MALT origin?

Pathol Res Pract. 1991 Jan;187(1):78-84. doi: 10.1016/S0344-0338(11)81049-6.

Abstract

A case of primary conjunctival lymphoma is reported herein. A 47-year-old woman presented with an indolent salmon-coloured tumour of the lower epibulbar conjunctiva. Histologically, we found a lymphoid infiltrate in the epithelium and subepithelium consisting of two components. One component was characterized by centrocytic-like cells and the other by lymphocytic, plasmacytoid and plasma cells. An immunohistological study demonstrated a light chain restricted immunoglobulin expression of the tumour cells as well as some residual polytypic follicles exhibiting reticular dendritic cells. Tumour cell proliferation was associated with a T cell reactive population. A comprehensive investigation (in particular an orbital scan) did not demonstrate any other localization of this lymphoma. Such a lesion raised the question of a possible MALT origin, by analog with MALT-lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract described by Isaacson and colleagues.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / etiology
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / immunology
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / analysis
  • Lymphoid Tissue
  • Lymphoma / etiology
  • Lymphoma / immunology
  • Lymphoma / pathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucous Membrane

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments