Intraocular lymphoma

a-c)Posttransplantation intraocular lymphoma- MR images showing smooth, undulating soft-tissue lesion in iris and anterior chamber d)photomicrograph consistent with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
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Intraocular lymphoma is a rare malignant form of eye cancer. Intraocular lymphoma may affect the eye secondarily from a metastasis from a non-ocular tumor or may arise within the eye primarily (primary intraocular lymphoma, PIOL). PIOL is a subset of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). PCNSL (and PIOL) are most commonly a diffuse large B-cell immunohistologic subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lymphomas. The most common symptoms of PIOL include blurred or decreased vision due to tumor cells in the vitreous. Most cases of PIOL eventuate to central nervous system involvement (PCNSL) while only 20% of PCNSL lead to intraocular (PIOL) involvement. PIOL and PCNSL remain enigmas because both structures are immunologically privileged sites (the brain sits behind the blood–brain barrier and the retina sits behind the blood-retinal barrier) and so do not normally have immune cells trafficking through these structures. What is more, while the vast majority of PCNSL in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is related to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the development of PCNSL and PIOL in immunocompetent patients is unknown and shows no general relation to infectious DNAs.[1]

In immunocompetent patients, PIOL most commonly affects patients in their fifties and sixties. AIDS patients typically develop the disease earlier in their lives.[citation needed]

PIOL affects the sub-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), can invade into the retina, the vitreous, and the optic nerve. Ophthalmoscopy frequently reveals creamy yellow-to-orange colored subretinal infiltrates. Fluorescein angiography may reveal "leopard spot" patterns due to sub-RPE infiltrates that stain early and progressively or mottling of the RPE due to hyper- and hypofluorescent window defects.[2]

PIOL is known as a masquerade syndrome because it frequently simulates the signs and symptoms of uveitis. As such, PIOL is frequently treated with corticosteroids. Occasionally, PIOL has mimicked a retinitis and has been treated with antiviral medication. It is not until the supposed uveitis fails to respond to treatment, becomes recalcitrant to treatment, or shows worsening with discontinuation of corticosteroid treatment that another cause is sought out. If PIOL is suspected, it is important to first obtain a magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the brain to rule out cerebral involvement (PCNSL). If MRI is negative, lumbar puncture with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology should be performed to further rule out CNS disease. Histopathologic identification of atypical lymphocytes is considered the gold standard for diagnosing PCNSL/PIOL. If CSF cytology is negative or inconclusive and PIOL is suspected, a vitrectomy is often performed with cytologic analysis. Furthermore, adjunctive testing including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to identify monoclonal rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene (for B-cell lymphomas) or T-cell receptor (TCR, for the very rare T-cell lymphomas) can be performed.[3][4][5]

Previously, radiation therapy was the mainstay treatment for PCNSL/PIOL, but methotrexate has now become first-line.[6]

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ Shen, DF; Herbort, CP; Tuaillon, N; Buggage, RR; Egwuagu, CE; Chan, CC (Oct 2001). "Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in primary intraocular B-cell lymphoma". Modern Pathology. 14 (10): 995–9. doi:10.1038/modpathol.3880424. PMID 11598169.
2. ↑ Cassoux, N; Merle-Beral, H; Leblond, V; Bodaghi, B; Miléa, D; Gerber, S; Fardeau, C; Reux, I; Xuan, KH; Chan, CC; LeHoang, P (Dec 2000). "Ocular and central nervous system lymphoma: clinical features and diagnosis". Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. 8 (4): 243–50. doi:10.1076/ocii.8.4.243.6463. PMID 11262654. S2CID 39345449.
3. ↑ Shen, DF; Zhuang, Z; LeHoang, P; Böni, R; Zheng, S; Nussenblatt, RB; Chan, CC (Sep 1998). "Utility of microdissection and polymerase chain reaction for the detection of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and translocation in primary intraocular lymphoma". Ophthalmology. 105 (9): 1664–9. doi:10.1016/S0161-6420(98)99036-4. PMID 9754175. Archived from the original on 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
4. ↑ Coupland, Sarah E.; Anastassiou, Gerasimos; Bornfeld, Norbert; Hummel, Michael; Stein, Harald (March 2005). "Primary intraocular lymphoma of T-cell type: report of a case and review of the literature". Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. 243 (3): 189–197. doi:10.1007/s00417-004-0890-2. PMID 15806372. S2CID 24772799.
5. ↑ Gonzales, John A.; Chan, Chi-Chao (August 2007). "Biopsy techniques and yields in diagnosing primary intraocular lymphoma". International Ophthalmology. 27 (4): 241–250. doi:10.1007/s10792-007-9065-6. PMC 2048742. PMID 17440686.
6. ↑ Anthony, Casey L.; Bavinger, J. Clay; Shantha, Jessica G.; O’Keefe, Ghazala D.; Pearce, William A.; Voloschin, Alfredo; Grossniklaus, Hans E.; Yeh, Steven (2021-12-04). "Clinical outcomes following intravitreal methotrexate for primary vitreoretinal lymphoma". International Journal of Retina and Vitreous. 7 (1): 72. doi:10.1186/s40942-021-00346-0. ISSN 2056-9920. PMC 8645085. PMID 34863313. Archived from the original on 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2022-05-11.