<i>In vivo</i> confocal microscopy in a patient with conjunctival lymphoma

Abstract

A case of primary conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma studied by in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) is described for the first time. Examination of the lower mediobulbar and forniceal conjunctiva of the left eye of a 37-year-old female patient showed a typical salmon-pink patch. IVCM examination of the conjunctival lesion showed irregular, polygonal, conjunctival bulbar epithelial cells with blurred edges and without visible nucleus. Many small, roundish, hyper-reflective cells were also seen. These cells were arranged diffusely or in nests in cyst-like hypo-reflective spaces. A few highly reflective cells were also visible among deep stromal collagen fibres. The IVCM picture recalled the histological profile of low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, characterized by sheets of neoplastic cells around reactive follicles. IVCM enabled non-invasive evaluation of the eye surface at high magnification and with good contrast, and could be useful for early differential diagnosis of conjunctival lesions.