Lymphoma of the Lacrimal Gland - An International Multicenter Retrospective Study

Incidence, clinical features, and survival outcomes of primary malignant lacrimal gland tumors: A population-based analysis

BACKGROUND

Studies on the epidemiological information and prognosis of primary malignant lacrimal gland tumors (MLGTs) are rare for its low occurrence. The goal of our research was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and survival outcomes of patients with MLGTs.

METHODS

Incidence and demographic information of patients with MLGTs were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. To identify independent prognostic factors for disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS), univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of primary MLGTs from 1975 to 2020 was 0.413/1,000,000 (according to the 2000 American standard population), with a steadily increasing incidence over years. A total of 964 patients with primary MLGTs were diagnosed, with an average age of 59.3 years. Of these, 53.2% were aged ≥60 years, 57.4% were female, and 77.1% were whites. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that year of diagnosis, age, sex, histological type, SEER stage, surgery, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors of DSS or OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Although primary MLGT is rare, its incidence has steadily increased in the past 46 years, and surgery was related to a better prognosis.

Specific location of ocular adnexal lymphoma and mortality: an international multicentre retrospective study

AIMS

To examine whether the specific location of ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM tumour stage are prognostic factors for mortality in the main OAL subtypes.

METHODS

Clinical and survival data were retrospectively collected from seven international eye cancer centres. All patients from 1980 to 2017 with histologically verified primary or secondary OAL were included. Cox regression was used to compare the ocular adnexal tumour locations on all-cause mortality and disease-specific mortality.

RESULTS

OAL was identified in 1168 patients. The most frequent lymphoma subtypes were extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (EMZL) (n=688, 59%); follicular lymphoma (FL) (n=150, 13%); diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (n=131, 11%); and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (n=89, 8%). AJCC/TNM tumour-stage (T-stage) was significantly associated with disease-specific mortality in primary ocular adnexal EMZL and increased through T-categories from T1 to T3 disease. No associations between AJCC/TNM T-stage and mortality were found in primary ocular adnexal FL, DLBCL, or MCL. EMZL located in the eyelid had a significantly increased disease-specific mortality compared with orbital and conjunctival EMZL, in both primary EMZL and the full EMZL cohort. In DLBCL, eyelid location had a significantly higher disease-specific mortality compared with an orbital or lacrimal gland location.

CONCLUSION

Disease-specific mortality is associated with AJCC/TNM T-stage in primary ocular adnexal EMZL patients. Lymphoma of the eyelid has the highest disease-specific mortality in primary EMZL, and in the full cohort of EMZL and DLBCL patients.

CD5-Negative Primary Mantle Cell Lymphoma Presenting with a Bilateral Conjunctival Mass: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall

Mantle cell lymphoma is a B-cell malignancy, which, in its classic form, usually involves lymph nodes and extranodal sites, and, among the extranodal sites, the gastrointestinal tract and the Waldeyer's ring are most prevalent. MCL is rarely reported in the ocular adnexa, a site more frequently affected by extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, which is a form of low-grade malignancy. The diagnosis of MCL presenting in the ocular adnexa requires special attention as its rarity in this location combined with the not uncommon CD5 negativity of the disease when occurring in the ocular adnexa, may lead the pathologist to overlook the diagnosis and misinterpret MCL as marginal zone B cell lymphoma, which has a totally different behavior. Herein, we present a case of primary bilateral conjunctival CD5-negative MCL in a patient having no other sites affected by lymphoma and we discuss possible diagnostic pitfalls.

The Biology of Ocular Adnexal Marginal Zone Lymphomas

This review focuses on the biology of ocular adnexal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of the mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT) (OAMZL) subtype. The ocular adnexa includes all structures and tissues within the orbit except for the eye bulb. In the region of the ocular adnexa, MALT lymphomas represent the most common subtype of lymphoma, accounting for around 8% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. These lymphomas are often preceded by inflammatory precursor lesions. Either autoantigens or infectious antigens may lead to disease development by functioning as continuous antigenic triggers. This triggering leads to a constitutive activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. The role of antigenic stimulation in the pathogenesis of OAMZL is supported by the detection of somatic mutations (partially with further intraclonal diversity) in their rearranged immunoglobulin V genes; hence, their derivation from germinal-center-experienced B cells, by a restricted IGHV gene usage, and the validation of autoreactivity of the antibodies in selected cases. In the established lymphomas, NF-κB activity is further enforced by mutations in various genes regulating NF-κB activity (e.g., TNFAIP3, MYD88), as well as recurrent chromosomal translocations affecting NF-κB pathway components in a subset of cases. Further pathogenetic mechanisms include mutations in genes of the NOTCH pathway, and of epigenetic regulators. While gene expression and sequencing studies are available, the role of differential methylation of lymphoma cells, the role of micro-RNAs, and the contribution of the microenvironment remain largely unexplored.

Bilateral lacrimal gland lymphoma: Case report and literature review

Ocular adnexal lymphoma accounts for approximately 1%-2% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and 8% of extranodal lymphomas. Lacrimal gland lymphoma, especially bilateral lacrimal gland lymphoma, is rare, and imaging is often utilized to differentiate lacrimal lymphoma from other types of masses that involve the lacrimal gland and the fossa. We describe a 74-year-old male patient presenting with bilateral eye proptosis, lachrymose without pain, and no changes in eyesight. Brain-orbit magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral lacrimal fossa masses with regular contours, moderate enhancement, and restriction on diffusion imaging, consistent with a lymphoma diagnosis, which was confirmed by histopathological results. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography was used to determine lymphoma grading. MRI, especially diffusion imaging, can be useful for guiding clinicians in the diagnosis and differentiation of lacrimal gland lymphoma from other lesions.

Clinico-epidemiological analysis of 1000 cases of orbital tumors

PURPOSE

To clarify the incidence, demography and clinical features of orbital tumors diagnosed in a single institute in Japan.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective, observational case series.

METHODS

Patients with primary orbital tumors including tumor-like lesions diagnosed clinically or histopathologically at Tokyo Medical University Hospital between 1995 and 2019 were analyzed. Incidence of all orbital tumors, demographic profile and clinical features of major benign and malignant tumors were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Totally 1000 cases of primary orbital tumor were diagnosed clinically or histopathologically during the study period. Benign tumors accounted for 72% and malignant tumors 28%. 55% of benign tumors and 99% of malignant tumors were proven histopathologically. The most common benign orbital tumor was idiopathic orbital inflammation (27%), followed by IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (17%), cavernous venous malformation (13%) and pleomorphic adenoma (9%). The most common malignant tumor was lymphoma (70%), followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma (7%) and solitary fibrous tumor (5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Epidemiology of orbital tumors has changed by the improvement of imaging techniques, establishment of novel clinical and histopathological criteria, and changes in population age structure associated with the aging society. Currently, lymphoproliferative diseases including lymphoma and IgG4-related ophthalmic diseases form the major orbital tumors in Japan.