Clinical Features of Primary and Systemic Metastatic Intraocular Lymphomas in Spanish Patients

Vitreoretinal lymphoma: the importance of cerebral spinal fluid evaluation at initial diagnosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To determine if patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) and concomitant central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) may present without brain MRI findings, but possess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) suspicious for lymphoma.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, single-centre, observational study evaluating patients with a diagnosis or suspicion of VRL seen at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between 2006 and 2024. Patients were included if the final diagnosis was biopsy-proven CNSL and both MRI brain with and without contrast±CSF evaluation (obligatory for inclusion if MRI negative) were performed at the initial diagnostic workup. Patients were excluded if CNS disease treatment (brain, spine or CSF) preceded ocular disease. Patients with prior extra-CNS disease were included. Clinical records and radiographic imaging were retrospectively reviewed and relevant data were recorded for each patient. We evaluated the proportion of patients with MRI negative and CSF suspicious for lymphoma. Subgroup analysis included imaging features, pathology, treatment and disease course.

RESULTS

We identified 65 patients. Of the 65 patients at the presentation of VRL, 30 had negative MRI brain and CSF, 16 had positive brain MRI and negative CSF and 8 had both positive MRI brain and CSF. 11 (16.9%) had CSF suspicious for lymphoma without positive findings on MRI of the brain. In this subgroup, the median age was 66 years (range 49-82) and 36% were female. 86% of these patients were asymptomatic neurologically. 73% underwent systemic treatment. At a mean 3 years follow-up, 91% of patients were living.

CONCLUSION

In patients with suspected VRL, it is possible to have CSF test positive for lymphoma in the context of negative brain MRI. This suggests, when evaluating VRL patients for concomitant CNS disease, CSF evaluation leads to earlier detection and systemic treatment, even when MRI brain findings are negative. In our cohort, an absence of CSF evaluation in the context of negative brain MRI could have missed 16.9% of patients with CNS lymphoma.

Endoretinal biopsy outcomes in suspected vitreoretinal lymphoma after inconclusive vitreous cytology

OBJECTIVE

To review the clinical utility of endoretinal biopsies in diagnostically undefined cases of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) with negative vitreous cytology.

METHODS

Retrospective case series including all consecutive patients who underwent endoretinal biopsies in a tertiary care center, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Spain), between 2014 and 2020.

RESULTS

A total of 5 patients were included in this study. Four were male and one was female, with a mean age at diagnosis of 49years. Two patients had a past medical history of extraocular involvement, both having experienced complete remission of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). All patients presented retinitis-like lesions characterized by substantial retinal thickening and infiltrative deposits below the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Retinal biopsies clarifying the diagnosis of VRL were established in four out of the five patients. Immunohistochemical results confirmed DLBCL, enabling the diagnosis of intraocular secondary DLBCL in two patients and primary ocular DLBCL in the other two. No postoperative complications were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoretinal biopsies clarified the diagnosis of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) in 4 of 5 patients. This is a high rate of diagnosis, which is clinically meaningful, since it influences management. Our case series underscores the efficacy of employing retinal biopsy in cases where vitreous biopsy results prove inconclusive within the challenging context of suspicion of VRL.

Epstein-Barr virus-positive iris diffuse large B-cell lymphoma detected by metagenomic next-generation sequencing

PURPOSE

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a relatively rare subtype of DLBCL. Herein, we report a case of a patient with EBV-positive iris DLBCL after undergoing penetrating keratoplasty and discuss its possible pathogenesis.

METHODS

A 72-year-old male patient presented to our hospital with progressive blurring of vision in the left eye for the past 4 months. Small white nodular lesions were observed on the iris and retinal surface of the left eye, with a white cloud-like opacity in the vitreous cavity.

RESULTS

The patient was eventually diagnosed with EBV-positive iris DLBCL after undergoing pathological and metagenomic tests. After injecting methotrexate in the left vitreous cavity and administering systemic and local antiviral treatments, the ocular lesions disappeared.

CONCLUSION

EBV infection, drug immunosuppression, and aging-related immune deterioration may play significant roles in the pathogenesis of EBV-positive iris DLBCL.

SYNOPSIS

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a new subtype of DLBCL, which rarely occurs. Herein, we report a case of a patient with EBV-positive iris DLBCL after undergoing penetrating keratoplasty and discuss its possible pathogenesis.

The ghost tumour revisited. Corticosteroids in primary central nervous system lymphoma: diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications

OBJECTIVE

The cytolytic effect of corticosteroids on primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) has established the clinical dogma of avoiding steroid therapy prior to surgery for diagnostic purposes. However, since steroids are very useful during the initial management of intracranial lesions with vasogenic oedema, it was our aim to determine whether they cause a drawback in the diagnosis and prognosis of PCNSL.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with PCNSL between 2000 and 2020 in our tertiary neurosurgical centre. Data on steroid administration, surgery type and complications, haematopathological findings and prognostic factors were compiled. A second cohort was used as a control group to compare the ratio of non-diagnostic biopsies; this series comprised patients who underwent stereotactic brain biopsy for any reason between 2019 and 2020.

RESULTS

Forty patients with PCNSL were included in the study, of which 28 (70%) had received steroids before surgery. The use of steroids was more prevalent in patients with poorer performance status at diagnosis. No relevant differences were found in the diagnostic accuracy regardless of steroid exposure (93% under steroids vs 100% without steroids) or type of surgery performed. Furthermore, steroid withdrawal did not seem to augment the diagnostic ratio. The notable diagnostic delay was not influenced by the use of steroids.

CONCLUSIONS

Novel imaging and surgical techniques might obviate the need to withhold corticosteroids from patients suffering from PCNSL prior to biopsy. Moreover, when steroids have been given, tapering them and delaying the surgery might not be justified. This could hold relevant therapeutic implications in the early clinical stages.

Uveitis masquerade syndromes: A case series

The aim of this series is to report challenges faced in diagnosis of three cases of recurrent or atypical uveitis not responding to conventional treatment. A high index of suspicion, aided by newer techniques, such as cytology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry of ocular fluids, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, may be necessary for a prompt diagnosis of uveitis masquerade syndromes.

Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma: A Retrospective Study of 20 Eyes

Purpose. This study aimed to describe and analyze the clinical features of 20 eyes of 15 primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) patients. Methods. This was a retrospective case series and a review of the literature. Fifteen PVRL patients (20 affected eyes) referred between February 2011 and December 2019 were recruited, and their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Results. Among these 15 PVRL patients, seven were men (46.67%), and five had bilateral PVRL (33.33%). The median onset age was 66 ± 9.26 years and six (40%) patients had central nervous system (CNS) involvement, and two of them died of CNS-related complications. The ocular symptoms varied from decreased vision to binocular diplopia. The ocular manifestations were diverse and involved both the anterior and posterior segments, including the vitreous cells, subretinal white-yellow lesions, cotton-wool spots, and ophthalmoplegia. The rate of misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose was 100%, and 30% of them were misdiagnosed as uveitis. We found five cases revealing rare characteristics of this malignancy. Among them, there were two cases with mild hypertensive retinopathy exhibiting cotton-wool spots, one case mimicking age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one case with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and one patient had extraocular muscle involvement. To the best of our knowledge, we reported PVRL exhibiting cotton-wool spots as the main manifestation and coexisting with extraocular myopathy for the first time. Conclusions. PVRL is a rare intraocular malignancy that commonly masquerades as uveitis. As the clinical signs and symptoms are atypical, ophthalmologists must carefully examine patients to avoid misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose. Cotton-wool spots and extraocular myopathy might be the dominant initial symptoms in PVRL patients, and AMD should be considered a differential diagnosis of PVRL. SLE patients under immunosuppressive treatment could have spontaneous PVRL.

Anterior segment involvement in Epstein-Barr virus: a review

The aim of this study is to describe the involvement of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in the diseases of the ocular anterior segment. This is a narrative review designed using the PUBMED, SCOPE and Web of Science databases, searching for reported literature on findings in the anterior ocular segment related to EBV between 1990 and 2020. Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is implicated in the development of salmon-coloured conjunctival masses in the context of acute mononucleosis and lymphoproliferative disorders. Moreover, EBV can cause haemorrhagic conjunctivitis and its corneal implications appear as different types of keratitis patterns. The involvement of EBV in the pathogenesis of anterior segment inflammation is not well-defined. Current evidence regarding anterior segment disease caused by EBV infection has been proved by positive viral detection through polymerase chain reaction test in eyes with lymphoproliferative disorders known to be caused by EBV, as B- and NK/T-cell lymphoid tumours. Antiviral treatment (oral Aciclovir or Valaciclovir) in anterior segment disease caused by EBV remains controversial.

Vitreoretinal lymphoma occurring after systemic chemotherapy for primary conjunctival diffuse large B cell lymphoma: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Ocular adnexal lymphoma and vitreoretinal lymphoma are rare forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. They are regarded as distinct disease entities due to the differences in molecular mechanism, management, and outcome. We present a rare case of conjunctival diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that developed to vitreoretinal lymphoma after systemic chemotherapy.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 60-year-old man presented with a left salmon-colored conjunctival mass.

DIAGNOSIS

A biopsy was performed, and histopathologic examination showed DLBCL. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CD20 with increased κ to λ light chain ratio.

INTERVENTIONS

Bone marrow biopsy also revealed DLBCL. Gallium-67 scintigraphy showed abnormal uptake only in the left orbital lesion. Ann Arbor stage was estimated as IV. The patient underwent systemic combination chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

OUTCOMES

Four months after the last course of chemotherapy, primary conjunctival DLBCL relapsed, manifesting vitreous opacity. Diagnostic vitrectomy confirmed a diagnosis of vitreoretinal lymphoma.

LESSONS

Conjunctival DLBCL and vitreoretinal lymphoma are both DLBCL. After systemic chemotherapy for conjunctival DLBCL, the lymphoma may relapse in intraocular sites as secondary vitreoretinal lymphoma.

Vitreoretinal Lymphoma

Vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is a rare variant of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), mostly of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, which affects the retina and/or the vitreous with or without optic nerve involvement. The disease course is aggressive. Up to 90% of the patients develop central nervous system lymphoma within one year. The diagnosis of VRL is challenging due to nonspecific chronic and relapsing uveitis and is made by anterior chamber tab or vitreous aspirate biopsy. There is no established treatment protocol for VRL patients with bilateral involvement without CNS involvement. There are suggestions to use only intravitreal chemotherapy with methotrexate and/or rituximab. Alternatively, systemic high-dose MTX treatment or external beam radiotherapy is used. Further studies are needed to prove and confirm the prophylactic systemic therapy in preventing CNS involvement in limited VRL.

Hypopyon: Is-it Infective or Noninfective?

Hypopyon usually corresponds to the sedimentation of white blood cells, and it signifies severe intraocular inflammation. This key clinical sign may occur in association with a wide variety of infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions that may be sight- and, occasionally, life-threatening. A careful history and thorough clinical examination are the cornerstones for orienting the differential diagnosis, identifying the causative agent, and initiating prompt and appropriate treatment. This review outlines the clinical characteristics and management of hypopyon in relation with the underlying causative infectious or noninfectious ocular or systemic diseases.

Optic Nerve Infiltration in Systemic Metastatic Retinal Lymphoma (SMRL): Multimodal Imaging and Challenges in Diagnosis

A 45-year-old man was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma stage IV which was confirmed by celiac lymph node biopsy. He subsequently completed six cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy. Six months later, he presented with panuveitis OU with positive relative afferent pupillary defect OD. OCT revealed hyper-reflective lesions and irregularity of the retinal pigment epithelium OU. Fundus fluorescein angiogram shows hyper-auto fluorescence and granular changes on the retina. A month later, he developed swollen optic disc OD and hemorrhagic retinitis OU and treated as presumed CMV retinitis. Anti-TB was started after a positive Mantoux test. He finally consented for a vitreous biopsy which showed atypical lymphoid cells highly suggestive for vitreoretinal lymphoma and subsequently received intravitreal methotrexate OU.Conclusion: Optic nerve infiltration in systemic metastatic retinal lymphoma may have initial occult signs but with profound visual loss. Ocular infections like CMV retinitis and tuberculosis may mask and delay the diagnosis in immunocompromised patients.