Benign reactive lymphoid hyperplasia of the caruncle and plica: report of 5 cases.

PURPOSE To report the clinicopathologic features and management of patients with benign reactive lymphoid hyperplasia of the caruncle and plica semilunaris. METHODS This retrospective case series includes 5 patients with lesions in the caruncle or plica semilunaris who underwent surgical excision over a 10-year period. The clinicopathologic features and immunohistochemical studies are reported. RESULTS All patients presented with salmon-colored, fish-flesh appearance (3 at the caruncle and 2 in the plica semilunaris). All tumors underwent complete surgical excision. Pathology and immunohistochemical studies showed polyclonal infiltration of lymphoid cells. There was no systemic involvement at presentation or during follow-up (mean, 48 months), and no local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Benign reactive lymphoid hyperplasia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mass lesions of the caruncle and plica semilunaris, especially in young male patients. Histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemistry studies are necessary to exclude lymphoma and other malignant lesions. Complete surgical excision of the plica or caruncle does not seem to induce significant complications.