Atypical conjunctival CD5 positive mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma

A 61-year-old woman with intermittent ocular irritation redness and swelling of her eyes was followed up and investigated. The diagnosis was conjunctival CD5 positive mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, which is an atypical and rare type of pathology of the eye, in which the clinical course/behavior is not fully understood. Our experience showed that this disease is indolent and responds well to radiotherapy. It can recur in the fellow eye, even after as many as eight years of successful treatment with no evidence of recurrences in the previously affected eye. Therefore, long-term periodic follow-up is mandatory to detect recurrences in such patients. Further studies are also required to elucidate a more conclusive clinical behavior of this disease so that a clearer therapeutic and management plan can be devised for future patients with this disease.