Intraocular Lymphoma (Vitreoretinal Lymphoma)

By Paul T. Finger, MD

Description

Intraocular Lymph
Choroidal infiltration by lymphoma

Most patients diagnosed to have intraocular lymphoma have symptoms of vitreous floaters, a history of systemic lymphoma or have been diagnosed as having chronic uveitis. Any patients with vitreous cells, no history of recent intraocular surgery and a non-painful eye should be suspected to have intraocular lymphoma.

Symptoms

Case Example: A 70-year-old woman was noted to experience an acute deterioration of her vision due to vitreous cells. A diagnostic vitrectomy was performed. Pathology showed large B-cell lymphoma. A complete metastatic survey (imaging studies of the brain, chest, abdomen), lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsy were found to be negative.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma is typically made by removal of cells (vitrectomy biopsy) from the eye with subsequent cytopathologic evaluation. Lymphoma biopsy should be performed at a center with ophthalmic pathology services used to working with small specimens. Once the diagnosis is certain, a hematologist-oncologist should be consulted to perform an evaluation for systemic and central nervous system lymphoma (staging).

Treatments

Intraocular Lymphoma B Scan
B-scan ultrasound reveals an irregular retinal surface and variable internal reflectivity.

Though chemotherapy can be used to treat the systemic disease, poor intraocular drug penetration can leave residual lymphoma in the eye. In these cases, external beam radiation therapy to the eyes and orbits will typically clear the intraocular disease.

The literature consists of a multitude of case-reports and no evidence based comparative studies. In my experience, most patients are eventually treated with ocular irradiation. Others have had prophylactic whole-brain irradiation as well as combinations of local and systemic chemotherapy.

What is common to most of these reports is that, when the lymphoma is found in the brain, the prognosis is poor. Clearly, a natural history study followed by prospective randomized treatment trials would be helpful to find the cure for patients with intraocular lymphoma.

Additional info

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy has been the most common treatment for intraocular lymphoma. Both eyes are usually treated because approximately 80% of cases will either present as or go on to develop bilateral disease (within 8 years).

The prescription dose has been decreasing with less than 3,000 cGy being employed in many centers. The dose to the orbit is adjusted when whole-brain irradiation is required. With this in mind, remember to always obtain a complete neurological work-up to rule out central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Radiation will help acutely, but intraocular and CNS relapse are common.

Chemotherapy

Recent investigations have combined radiation therapy with systemic or intrathecal chemotherapy. Several studies suggest that this approach has prolonged survival. Chemotherapeutic agents have been given intravenously, intrathecally, and intravitreally (into the eye).

Injections of chemotherapy into the eye have been investigated as an alternative to radiation. Typically using methotrexate and/or retuximab, multiple injections are required and carry the known risks associated with ocular perforation (e.g. infection) as well as chemotherapy associated side-effects. This is why most centers use intravitreal chemotherapy when patients demonstrate intraocular recurrence after failure of radiation therapy.

Related links


Infiltrative Choroidopathy

By Paul T. Finger, MD

Description

In this case, our patient had a history of myeloma. If suspected, the work-up for multiple myeloma includes: a bone-marrow biopsy, skeletal x-rays, serum protein electrophoresis, urinalysis for Bence-Jones proteins. Several cases have described orbital involvement.

In this case, progression was documented and external beam radiation therapy stabilized her ocular condition.


Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

By Paul T. Finger, MD

Description

Leukemic Infiltrate of the Anterior Chamber - Hypopyon with Hyphema
Leukemic Infiltrate of the Anterior Chamber – Hypopyon with Hyphema in a 6-year old child

Leukemia is a systemic disease that can involve the eyes. It occurs in both children and adults. In that the eyes can be a relative sanctuary (a place to hide from systemic chemotherapy) for leukemic cells, intraocular recurrences have been reported after both total body irradiation and systemic chemotherapy. It is reasonable for all patients with leukemia to have periodic eye examinations.

Adults can also have leukemia and develop infiltration of the eyes. The case presented in this section (below) demonstrates one such case.

Symptoms

Depending on the location of the leukemic infiltrates, patients will have different symptoms. Most patients are found to have retinal tumors with hemorrhage, optic nerve swelling (papilledema) or cells in the anterior chamber of the eye (hypopyon/hyphema). Leukemic tumor called “chloroma” can also form around the eyes and in the orbit.

In this case, posterior uveal infiltration caused thickening of the choroid that moved the retina forward. This made the patient more far-sighted (hyperopic shift) due to a shortening of the distance between the cornea/lens complex and the retina.

The front of the eye was also infiltrated by leukemic cells. Thickening of the iris, ciliary body and anterior uvea induced a secondary “narrow angle” glaucoma. The symptoms of glaucoma include seeing haloes around lights, headache (brow-ache) and eye pain.

Diagnosis

The clinical diagnosis of infiltrative ocular leukemia (e.g. typical findings and a history of systemic leukemia) is typically adequate for treatment of patients. When proof of recurrence is needed to proceed with systemic or local therapy, a biopsy may be performed for a cytologic or histopathologic diagnosis.

Treatments

The treatment of intraocular leukemia is (in part) dependent on the treatment of the patient’s systemic disease. For example, in the clinical situation where the eye findings are not posing an immediate threat to vision, your physician my wait for systemic therapies to resolve the ocular disease. In cases where all standard treatments have been unsuccessful in resolving the ocular leukemia; patients will be treated with low-dose external beam radiation therapy.

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Patient Stories

"Very well treated by Dr. Finger. He explained everything I needed to know about my issue with detail and attention, putting me at ease and giving me confidence to handle this problem for the rest of my life.”
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