CLINICAL EXPRESSION IN 7 PATIENTS WITH MALT LYMPHOMA OF THE CONJUNCTIVA

Problem: Lymphomas of conjunctiva are more common than is believed and immunohistologic analysis is able to distinguish benign and malignant lymphoid infiltrates. Methods: We analyzed seven cases of primary lym phoma of conjunctiva treated between November/1989 and April/1994. The re were six females and one male with median age of 50 years (range 33 -76 years). Results: Six patients were stage IE and one was IIE. At di agnosis, all but one had unilateral compromise of conjunctiva. All pat ients were classified as MALT lymphoma and six of them were positive f or lambda light chain. Four patients were treated with combination of chemotherapy and bilateral radiotherapy and two received radiotherapy alone. One patient had bilateral relapse 12 months after chemotherapy alone and was successfully treated with radiotherapy. All cases treate d with combined therapy achieved complete remission. Conclusion: Based on this experience, we suggest that combined treatment with chemother apy and bilateral radiotherapy can prevent local relapse.