High-grade malignant B-cell lymphoma of the retina in a patient with concomitant gastric MALT lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
To report the unexpected finding of a primary retinal B-cell lymphoma in a patient with previous breast carcinoma and subsequent lymphoma of the stomach.


METHODS
Histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings in the enucleated eye are described in conjunction with clinical features and investigations.


RESULTS
An 80-year-old woman with previous breast cancer presented with moderate loss of vision associated with vitreous opacities, circumpapillary retinal haemorrhages, and attenuated retinal vessels in her left eye. Treatment with systemic steroids and oral immunosuppressive drugs was initiated on suspicion of carcinoma-associated retinopathy. Two years later, the patient was diagnosed with MALT lymphoma of the stomach. Unfortunately, the ocular symptoms did not improve, and the patient developed neovascular glaucoma, for which the eye was eventually enucleated. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry as well as a molecular analysis revealed a primary B-cell lymphoma of the retina.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma of the retina should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of non-specific retinopathies even in the presence of other primary neoplastic co-morbidities.
Sbeity
Zaher H
ZH
Department of Ophthalmology, Division of Ocular Pathology, University of Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Strasse 2, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
Coupland
Sarah
S
Loeffler
Karin U
KU
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins