Conjunctival lymphoid hyperplasia presenting with bilateral panuveitis.

Author(s): Ioannidis AS, Rai P, Mulholland B

Affiliation(s): Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Free Hospital, NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom. alexioannidis@hotmail.com

Publication date & source: 2005-03, Am J Ophthalmol., 139(3):566-8.

Publication type: Case Reports

PURPOSE: To report on a case of bilateral conjunctival lymphoid hyperplasia presenting with bilateral panuveitis in a female patient. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: In this case excisional biopsy indicated lymphoid tissue. Immunohistochemistry showed a follicular architecture with appropriate zoning of B and T lymphocytes. RESULTS: Causes of panuveitis were considered and excluded based on a detailed history, physical examination, and laboratory investigations. The bilateral panuveitis resolved on topical corticosteroids and visual acuity returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular adnexal lymphoproliferative lesions consist of a spectrum of disease entities, including reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, atypical lymphoid hyperplasia, and lymphoma. There are no established clinical criteria to differentiate between these lesions. This case highlights the importance of a thorough ophthalmic examination in these patients, as an intra-ocular inflammatory process may accompany the conjunctival findings. Furthermore, we advocate periodic follow-up examinations because of the small potential risk of developing ocular or systemic lymphoma in these patients.