Conjunctival Lymphoma
Disease Description and Clinical Picture
Conjunctival lymphoma (tumor of lymphocytes) has been described in both dogs and cats. Most often, the owner brings their pet to the veterinarian due to eye changes, and upon examination, it's determined that there is a generalized disease state, as conjunctival lymphoma can be a metastasis from a primary site. Regardless of the primary location of the lymphoma, ocular manifestations of the disease (referring to all eye structures, not just the conjunctiva) will be present in 37% of affected animals, making it the second most common clinical symptom, right after enlarged lymph nodes. The conjunctiva can also be the primary site of the lymphoma, although this is relatively rare. The lymphoma can be observed on the conjunctiva as a growing, oval, smooth, or multinodular pink mass.
 
Therapy
The diagnosis is established by histopathological examination of the tumor. In addition to blood tests and biochemistry, lymph node examination (aspirate, biopsy), abdominal ultrasound, and chest X-ray are necessary. Computerized tomography of orbits can be pursued to evaluate for the possible orbital spread. Cats must also be additionally tested for the presence of FeLV and FIV viruses. Systemic, individually-determined chemotherapy and topical corticosteroid therapy are used. More recently, therapies with T and B cell monoclonal antibodies, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, and immune cancer vaccines have been attempted. Localized steroid injections and chemotherapeutic agent injections (methotrexate) can be used to control the growth of the lymphoma if it is confined to the conjunctival region only.
 
Please contact our specialty veterinary ophthalmology hospital Animal Eye Consultants
of Iowa (animaleyeiowa@gmail.com) in USA or Oculus Veterinary Specialty Hospital
(oculusklinika@gmail.com) in Serbia, Europe to schedule an appointment so your pet
can be seen.