Ophthalmic tumor formation in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is a malignant disease of the reticuloendothelial system; ocular complications reported previously have been concerned chiefly with hyperviscosity manifestations. Ophthalmic tumor formation is rare, although not unheard of, in this particular condition. This report describes two rare instances of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia which involved conjunctival and orbital tumors. One patient developed the tumors after a lengthy clinical course; in the other patient, eyelid and orbital tumors were the first symptoms. Careful examination of the external eye, especially the fornix of the conjunctiva, in patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia can identify an initial lesion or invasions to other organs.