Combination of adult inclusion conjunctivitis and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in a young adult.

PURPOSE:

To report a patient who was diagnosed with combined adult inclusion conjunctivitis (AIC) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.

METHODS:

This is a case report.

RESULTS:

An 18-year-old male patient presented with chronic conjunctivitis and giant follicles. Evaluation by chlamydial antigen assay was positive. Conjunctival biopsy for the immunohistochemical stain and polymerase chain reaction of the left eye showed MALT lymphoma.

CONCLUSIONS:

MALT lymphoma can masquerade as other ocular surface diseases. Chlamydial infection causes chronic inflammation of the conjunctiva. Both of these diseases should be considered as a differential diagnosis of refractory follicular conjunctivitis. It is worthy of further study to determine whether chronic inflammation resulting from chlamydial infection increases the risk of MALT lymphoma or it is coincidental.