Primary lymphoma of the conjunctiva - a rare manifestation of indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Lymphoid tumours of the conjunctiva are extremely rare. Such tumours can ap pear as an isolated neoplasm or as part of a systemic disease. We describe the clinical and histopathologic findings of a patient with bilateral conju nctival lymphoma who presented with a 5-year history of chronic conjunctivi tis. After clinical staging, including (1) thoracic and abdominal computeri sed tomography scans, (2) magnetic resonance tomography of the brain and or bita, (3) fibre-optic gastrointestinoscopy, (4) colonoscopy and (5) bone ma rrow biopsy, no other foci of the lymphoma were found. The patient received radiation therapy and achieved complete remission. We conclude that conjun ctival lymphoma should be included in the differential diagnoses of chronic conjunctivitis. Persisting signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis not respon ding to standard treatment should prompt biopsy.