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Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing VRL Diagnosis Using Cell-Free DNA Extraction from Vitreous Humor
Published on: January 12, 2024
Diagnosis of conjunctival B-cell lymphoma by polymerase chain reaction heteroduplex analysis
Erich C Strauss1, John F Warren, Todd P Margolis
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco Medical Center, California, San Francisco, USA. strauss@itsa.ucsf.edu
Purpose:
To report a case initially assessed as giant papillary conjunctivitis and subsequently as B-cell lymphoma by the molecular technique of polymerase chain reaction heteroduplex analysis.
Design:
Observational case report.
Methods:
Clinical, histologic, immunohistochemical, and polymerase chain reaction heteroduplex analysis findings are presented.
Results:
A 32-year-old man developed unilateral blepharoptosis secondary to an extensive palpebral conjunctival follicular-like process. Excisional biopsy showed a dense small lymphocyte infiltrate consistent with benign lymphoid hyperplasia by histology and immunohistologic marker studies. Polymerase chain reaction heteroduplex analysis revealed low-grade B-cell lymphoma, however. Systemic examination was negative. Focal radiation therapy was performed, and preliminary results show no signs of lymphoma.
Conclusions:
Polymerase chain reaction heteroduplex analysis established a diagnosis of conjunctival B-cell lymphoma in the absence of supporting histology and immunohistochemistry studies. This technique may provide independent, diagnostic distinction between benign lymphoid hyperplasia and low-grade B-cell lymphoma of the ocular adnexa.
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