2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
4 Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Tumors
Part II: Intraocular Tumors: Clinical Aspects
Chapter 20: Ocular Involvement in Systemic Malignancies
Lymphoid Tumors
Secondary Involvement of Systemic Lymphoma
Ocular lymphoma may represent spread from systemic disease.
Clinical evaluation
Ocular involvement in systemic lymphoma has a variable presentation. Features may include uveitis; infiltration of any portion of the uveal tract; or a discrete mass of the conjunctiva, eyelid, or orbit. Diagnostic biopsy is directed to the most accessible region of the eye where a large amount of tissue can be obtained. Ideally, the pathologist will be able to compare the results of the ocular biopsy with those of biopsies from other sites.
Treatment
Treatment is dictated by the type of lymphoma and extent of disease; when the site of tumor involvement is new, restaging may be necessary. Treatment may include systemic chemotherapy, orbital radiation, or bone marrow transplantation. Such cases are managed in collaboration with a medical oncologist.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 4 - Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Tumors. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.