Jj. Lichauco et al., Orbital mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type lymphoma in a patient with relapsing polychondritis, ARTH RHEUM, 44(7), 2001, pp. 1713-1715
Relapsing polychondritis is characterized by recurrent inflammation of the
cartilaginous tissues of the ears, nose, peripheral joints, and the tracheo
bronchial tree. The eye is also a frequent target organ in relapsing polych
ondritis, and proptosis is a well-recognized manifestation of eye involveme
nt. Similar to other rheumatologic diseases, an association of relapsing po
lychondritis with malignancy has been reported. We describe a patient with
relapsing polychondritis who presented with exophthalmos. When treatment di
rected toward control of her underlying disease was only partially effectiv
e, further investigation revealed that she had an orbital mucosa-associated
lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type B cell lymphoma. We hypothesize that the lymph
oma resulted from malignant transformation of the relapsing polychondritis-
induced inflammatory pseudotumor and emphasize that neoplastic disease shou
ld be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with relapsing p
olychondritis presenting with exophthalmos.