Long-Term Outcomes after Cryotherapy for Conjunctival Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphomas

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term outcomes after cryotherapy for conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 11 eyes of 8 patients who underwent cryotherapy with a confirmed histopathological diagnosis of conjunctival MALT lymphoma between January 2006 and December 2010 and were followed up for at least a year. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 36.8 years and the average follow-up was 4.1 years. Complete remission was achieved in 3 patients (4 eyes) and recurrence occurred in 5 patients (7 eyes) after the first cryotherapy. After the third cryotherapy, complete remission was achieved in 2 patients (2 eyes) and recurrence occurred in 3 patients (5 eyes). Therefore, 3 patients (5 eyes) underwent radiotherapy and finally achieved complete remission. After cryotherapy, significant complications were not observed except mild symblepharon in 4 patients (6 eyes). CONCLUSIONS: Cryotherapy, although having a higher recurrence rate than radiotherapy, is a simple treatment modality with fewer complications for patients. In the conjunctival MALT lymphoma patients who cannot undergo radiotherapy, cryotherapy should be considered as an alternative treatment modality.