Systemic remission of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after intralesional interferon alpha-2b to bilateral conjunctival lymphomas

PURPOSE: To report the beneficial systemic effect of a 5-week course of intralesional interferon alpha-2b (IFN-A) injections to bilateral conjunctival lymphomas in a patient with relapsing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A patient in relapse with non,Hodgkin's lymphoma who declined further systemic therapy received 1.5-million IU IFN-A injected intralesionally to each of two conjunctival lymphomas to reduce ocular discomfort. This dose was repeated 10 times over 5 weeks. RESULTS: Conjunctival, postauricular, and facial lesions clinically resolved within 3 months of the start of treatment. Inguinal lymph nodes reduced in size, and the patient reported increased well,being and less fatigue. Side effects included injection discomfort and mild flulike symptoms, which were well tolerated. The improvement lasted 6 months from the first IFN-A injection. CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional treatment of conjunctival lymphomas with IFN-A induced disappearance of the tumors and also had a beneficial systemic effect. (C) 2004 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.