Presenting clinical features of patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma

AIM: To assess the presenting clinical features, time from presentation to diagnosis and association with central nervous system(CNS) lymphoma in patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma.METHODS: Retrospective case series of patients diagnosed with vitreoretinal lymphoma between 2009 and 2011 at a single center.RESULTS: Fifteen eyes in 9 patients were included. Common presenting ocular symptoms included blurred vision(78%) and worsening floaters(44%) with an average symptom duration prior to presentation of 88.4 d(range 7-365 d). Common ophthalmic exam findings were vitreous haze(89%) and subretinal lesions(56%). The average time from presentation to diagnosis was 56.3 d(range 16-180 d). All patients were diagnosedwith large B-cell lymphoma according to pathology results. Lymphoma was restricted to the eye in 33%, while 67% of patients had CNS involvement. Of the patients with secondary vitreoretinal lymphoma, 67% initially presented with CNS lymphoma while 33% initially presented with vitreoretinal lymphoma. Of the patients with CNS involvement, memory loss(67%) was the most common presenting symptom.CONCLUSION: Vitreoretinal lymphoma most commonly presents with symptoms of blurred vision and/or worsening floaters and vitreous haze on exam. The average time from presentation to diagnosis may be decreasing with increased awareness among clinicians.