[Gene rearrangement analysis of conjunctival malignant lymphomas].
Specific DNA probes for genes encoding immunoglobulins (Ig) and the T cell receptor (TCR) are useful diagnostic tools in lymphoproliferative disorders. Gene rearrangement analysis was carried out in 2 cases of conjunctival lymphoid lesions. A 36-year-old man (case 1) had a 1-year history of left conjunctival tumor. A biopsy was performed and histopathological findings showed diffuse proliferation of small lymphocytes, but monoclonality was not revealed by immunophenotypic analysis. A right conjunctival lesion developed and five months later a biopsy of the left conjunctiva was performed again. A frozen sample was analyzed and immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement was found. A 53-year-old woman (case 2) had a 6-month history of bilateral conjunctival tumor. The first biopsy did not reveal monoclonality immunophenotypically. A second biopsy with a frozen specimen was analyzed and immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement was found. We diagnosed these two cases as B-cell lymphoma. We discuss the clinical value of gene rearrangement analysis as a diagnostic method for lymphoproliferative disorders.
Suzuki
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical College, Japan.
Igarashi
Y
Y
Nakagawa
T
T
Satoh
M
M
Takahashi
M
M
Mogi
Y
Y
Satoh
T
T
Onodera
K
K
Kon
S
S
D000328:Adult; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015326:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged