Objective: To investigate the histopathological classification and clinical features of ocular adnexal lymphoproliferative lesions.
Methods: The clinical, histomorphological and immuno-histochemical features of 112 cases of ocular adnexal lymphoproliferative lesions (116 paraffin specimens) were studied retrospectively. The lesions were classified according to the World Health Organization classification of tumors of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (2001).
Results: This group of patients' ages averaged at 49. The mean duration between the onset of the symptoms and the time of presentation was 22 months. Sixteen patients (14.3%) had bilateral lesions. Proptosis or local orbital mass was presented in 69 cases (61.6%). Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia was diagnosed in 11 cases (9.8%) and atypical lymphoid hyperplasia in 10 cases (8.9%). The rest 91 cases (81.3%) were diagnosed as lymphoma, among which 74 cases (81.3%) were extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT-EMZL).
Conclusions: MALT-EMZL is the most frequent type of ocular lymphoproliferative lesions in ocular adnexa. The ocular adnexal lymphoproliferative lesions show an indolent course clinically, tending to affect the old. Bilateral case is not uncommon.