Two Cases of Conjunctival Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphomas Treated by Cryotherapy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report two cases of conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas treated with cryotherapy. CASE SUMMARY: Two patients with MALT lymphoma of the conjunctiva were treated by carbon dioxide cryotherapy under topical anesthesia using 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride (Alcaine(R), Alcon). Cryotherapy was repeated in recurrent lesions up to three times. One patient was free of the tumor for 18 months of follow-up after the third cryotherapy was performed. The second patient had complete disease arrest for 9 months after the third cryotherapy. Neither patient experienced complications during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Cryotherapy is a comparatively easy treatment tool with fewer complications for patients, making it preferable from a patient's perspective as well. Cryotherapy may be a useful treatment modality in patients with MALT lymphomas localized to the conjunctiva.