Subconjunctival lymphoma: a review of six suspected cases and the use of immunologic surface markers

Six cases of subconjunctival tumor clinically compatible with the appearance of subconjunctival lymphoma were evaluated. Two of the patients, Cases 1 and 2, were under treatment with either prednisone or gold therapy for severe rheumatoid arthritis. Patient 3 manifested further evidence of systemic disease (auxillary lymph node). Of the remaining cases, patient 4 had no further evidence of systemic involvement, whereas patient 5 was suspected of having a gastrointestinal tumor. The last case, a patient known to have pulmonary lymphoma, presented with dry eye and multiple subconjunctival lymphomatous masses. Immune surface marker studies demonstrated a B-cell monoclonal subconjunctival lymphoma, suggestive of an improved survival when compared to null cell-type lesions. Immune surface marker studies offer a new commercially available method for classifying and prognosticating subconjunctival lymphomas.