A case of Sjogren's syndrome with an eyelid tumor, a so-termed pseudolymphoma of the iacrimal gland

The female subject, 64 years old, subjectively noticed a mild dryness of the eyes and bilateral, submandibular swelling in 1988. The clinical symptom was mild, and such autoantibody and hyper-gammaglobulinemia as often observed in Sjogren's syndrome were not recognized. However, by judging from the results of gum test (9 ml/10 min), salivary gland scan (Grade 2) and the labial biopsy, we diagnosed the case as Sjogren's syndrome. We then administered prednisolone at 40 mg at the onset of treatment and gradually decreasing the dosage over 3.5 years, and the symptoms improved. As an eyelid tumor in the left eye was noticed in 1991 and began to enlarge, the subject was hospitalized in June of 1992. The biopsy of the tumor (2.0 x 1.7 cm) showed marked polyclonal lymphoproliferation with lymphoid follicles which was determined by immunohistological staining. The case was a patient with a lymphoproliferative lesion from a lacrimal gland which is equal to a so- termed pseudolymphoma. Since there are some reports concerning the transition from pseudolymphoma to malignant lymphoma, this patient should be followed carefully.