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


METHODS
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.
St. Paul's Eye Unit, Link 8Z, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescott Street, Liverpool, England. mrjonathanross@yahoo.com <mrjonathanross@yahoo.com>
Jonathan J
JJ
Ross
Kyaw L
KL
Tu
Bertil E
BE
Damato
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins