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Description
A 60-year-old woman was referred to our clinic with a diagnosis of vitritis in both eyes (BE) that had been treated with oral steroids for more than 1 month. Visual acuity of BE was counting fingers close to face. Examination revealed 10–15 cells/high power field in the anterior chamber of BE. Dense vitritis was noted and sonography did not show retinal detachment. Rest of eye examination was within normal limits. Blood count, chest X-ray, Mantoux test and peripheral blood smear were within normal limits. Screening tests for treponemal antigens and HIV were negative. No intracranial lesions were seen on MRI of head. With a presumptive diagnosis of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL), 25G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and vitreous biopsy were planned for right eye (RE).
Vitreous biopsy was performed both before and after starting the infusion fluids under direct visualisation (figure 1). Dense exudation was noted in the foveal region along with perivascular white balls dispersed all over the posterior pole (figure 1). Flat subretinal infiltrates along with overlying necrotic retinal patches were noted in periphery. Subretinal biopsy was performed by injection and immediate aspiration of fluid through access retinotomy (figure 2). Thereafter, fluid air exchange was done followed by laser retinopexy of the retinotomy site and SF6 (18%) injected.
The biopsy specimens were immediately (within 5 min) transferred to pathology laboratory where cytospin preparations made from the vitreous aspirate revealed large atypical lymphoid cells with moderately abundant cytoplasm and prominent nucleoli (figure 2). The cells were seen both singly and in groups. Immunocytochemical stains were strongly positive for the leucocyte common antigen (figure 2). However, they were negative for both B cell (CD 20) and T cell (CD 3, CD 5) markers. Hence, a diagnosis of null cell PVRL was made and oncology consultations were done for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination and chemotherapy. Fourteen days later, the retina was attached with a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 4/60 in RE.
Ocular involvement without apparent central nervous system (CNS) involvement may be seen in around 20% patients of intraocular lymphoma. While most cases are B cell non Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), null cell lymphoma has also been detected rarely.1 Vitritis and subretinal infiltrates are well-known presenting signs of PVRL.1 2 Although perivasculitis is rarely associated with PVRL,1 2 perivascular tumour balls as found in our case have not been documented. This pattern of tumour dispersion may simply be due to an adherent posterior hyaloid along vascular arcades providing a scaffold for growth to rapidly dividing cells. During PPV, these tumour balls were found to be free of the vascular walls and were aspirated easily with very gentle passive suction for biopsy.
Diagnosis of PVRL is known to be delayed after presentation (as long as 60 months!).1 Clinical suspicion is highly paramount as is optimum cytopathological examination. Despite precautions like performing biopsy before and after switching on infusion fluid to avoid dilution, low cut rates for preservation of cellular details and rapid transfer of specimen to pathologist, multiple vitreous biopsies may be needed.3
Learning points
Presumed vitritis unresponsive to immunosuppression should always be evaluated with a meticulous vitreous biopsy for ruling out masquerades.
Presence of perivascular tumour balls should alert the surgeon and the pathologist to the possibility of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma.
Footnotes
Patient consent for publication Obtained.
Contributors BT and AK diagnosed the patient, and performed surgery. BT, NG and AR wrote the case report. BT and AK critically revised the text. BT is the overall guarantor.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.