MUCOSA-ASSOCIATED LYMPHOID-TISSUE (MALT) IN THE HUMAN CONJUNCTIVA

The recent description of conjunctival lymphomas with features of lymp homas that arise in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) infers th e presence of MALT in the human conjunctiva. Some authors suggest that organized MALT is found in the normal human conjunctiva, but others d isagree. In order to resolve this problem, we have examined the conjun ctival fornix from unselected autopsies with no prior history of conju nctival or ocular disease for the presence of organized MALT, In only 31 per cent of cases was organized lymphoid tissue found with the morp hological and immunophenotypic features of MALT. This finding suggests that MALT is not found in the normal human conjunctiva but is acquire d during life in a proportion of apparently asymptomatic individuals.