MALT-type lymphoma of the orbit and ocular adnexae

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas constitute one-half of all orbital malignancies.1 Five to 15% of all extranodal lymphomas arise in the ocular adnexae (conjunctiva, lachrymal gland, orbital fat, eyelid, and lachrymal sac).2 Marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is the most common lymphoma category arising in these anatomical structures (Ocular Adnexal MALT Lymphoma; OAML).3 The rapidly increasing incidence of OAML is not correlated to changes in classification schemes, since a comparable increase has not been observed at other extranodal sites associated with a similar incidence of MALT lymphoma,4 and calls for further studies to identify environmental and genetic risk factors, including the potential role of infectious agents.4 The recently reported association between chlamydial infection and OAML5 offers new pathogenic insights that have led to the development of innovative antimicrobial therapies.