ASSOCIATION OF VITREORETINAL LYMPHOMA WITH SYSTEMIC LYMPHOMA

Purpose: To determine the association between vitreoretinal lymphoma and systemic lymphoma (SL). Methods: Single-center retrospective review of medical records. Results: Of 95 patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma, 18 (19%) had associated SL (SL group) and 77 (81%) were not associated with SL (no SL group). The most common sites of SL were skin (n = 5), testis (n = 2), liver and breast (n = 2), and others (n = 9). A comparison (SL group vs. [vs.] no SL group) revealed no difference in demographic or ocular findings at initial visit. In the SL group, SL occurred before the onset of ocular symptoms in 14 (78%) patients with mean interval of 86 months (median 61, range 5-286 months) or after ocular symptoms in 4 (22%) patients with mean interval of 19 months (median 12, range 7-44 months). A comparison revealed no difference in overall frequency of pre-existing or eventual central nervous SL (50% vs. 53%, P = 0.99); however, the SL group demonstrated central nervous SL more often after onset of ocular symptoms (78% vs. 17%, P = 0.001). A comparison found no difference in treatment methods, response of vitreoretinal lymphoma to treatment, final visual outcome, or death rate. Conclusion: We found 19% of patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma demonstrate related SL, and there was no difference in demographics, clinical features, or response to treatment, compared to those not associated with SL.

Automated summary

The study found that 19% of patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma were associated with systemic lymphoma, and there were no significant differences in demographics, clinical features, or treatment response between the two groups.