Conjunctival posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder.

PURPOSE: To describe a patient with conjunctival posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).

DESIGN: Interventional case report.

METHODS: A 8-year-old boy, three months status post bone marrow transplantation with bilateral enlarged gelatinous bulbar conjunctiva was examined. Biopsy of the bulbar conjunctiva was performed.

RESULTS: Conjunctival biopsy revealed a polymorphous infiltrate of lymphoid cells with large atypical immunoblastic lymphoma cells, plasmacytoid lymphocytes, and plasma cells. B-cell markers CD20 and CD79a were positive. Plasma cells exhibited restriction for kappa immunoglobulin light chain and were positive for CD79a. Most cells were positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded ribonucleic acid. EBV-related polymorphic PTLD was diagnosed and treated with discontinuation of cyclosporine, reduction in prednisone dosage and administration of EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The conjunctival lesions resolved during the next five weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder rarely involves the ocular structures with most cases presenting as a masquerade syndrome. This case illustrates that PTLD can involve the conjunctiva and further expands the clinical spectrum of ocular PTLD.