Benign lymphoid hyperplasia of the conjunctiva in children

Benign lymphoid hyperplasia of the conjunctiva occurs infrequently in children, and its presentation, clinical course, and appropriate management are not well established. We describe 2 children with nasal conjunctival masses that on pathological examination demonstrated benign lymphoid hyperplasia. Local irradiation of residual tissue was deferred, and the lesions remained stable for 1 year in one case and for 3 1/2 years in the other case. No systemic involvement had occurred. Although the natural history of extranodal lymphoid hyperplasia in children is poorly documented, most cases of nodal lymphoid hyperplasia in children are at very low risk of malignant transformation. Careful observation for local and systemic disease is indicated for ocular adnexal lymphoid hyperplasia in children until a more complete understanding of its natural history is available.