Poststreptococcal syndrome mimicking conjunctival lymphoma

BACKGROUND: Poststreptococcal syndrome (PSS) can be a consequence of nonpurulent primary infection with group A streptococci (GAS). Postreptococcal uveitis is a well recognized entity with quite a few descriptions in the literature, but so far no conjunctival involvement has been reported. The aim of the study is to present a rare case of postreptococcal conjunctival lesions mimicking a lymphoma. CASE PRESENTATION: 19-years-old Caucasian female presented with pink, nodular infiltrates in the right conjunctiva that occurred a few months after upper respiratory tract infection and tonsillectomy. Histopathological examination of collected lesion samples revealed inflammatory reaction with lymphocytes proliferation and failed to rule out a myeloma. Complementary flow-cytometry did not show monoclonal proliferation of lymphocytes B. During follow-up we observed the complete regression of conjunctival lesions after the benzyl penicillin treatment prescribed by ENT specialist due to elevated plasma ASO levels. Therefore, we suppose that those lesions must have represented a part of poststreptococcal syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, this is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of conjunctival involvement in the course of PSS related to group A streptococci.