Management of primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL): Results from the prospective German PIOL registry (PIOL-R).

Abstract

2054 Background: Primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL) is a very rare disorder, and the optimal treatment is yet to be defined. Here, we report clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with PIOL enrolled in the prospective German PIOL registry (PIOL-R). Methods: Patient data in this prospective, non-interventional multicenter study were compiled by standardized questionnaires sent to Ophthalmology and Hematology/Oncology centers in Germany. All histologically or cytologically confirmed immunocompetent PIOL patients were eligible. Results: Fifteen patients (8 female, median age 66 years, median Karnofsky performance status 90%) from 4 centers were included between August 2008 and January 2012. Median follow-up was 7 months. Median time from first occurrence of symptoms to PIOL diagnosis was 5 (range, 1-11) months. All PIOL were of diffuse large B-cell histology. Eight patients had concomitant (n=3), prior (n=2) and/or subsequent (n=4) parenchymal brain involvement. First-line treatment included methotrexate (MTX)-, rituximab- and/or ifosfamide-based systemic chemotherapy in 12 (including high-dose chemotherapy [HDCT] with autologous stem cell transplantation [ASCT] in 2), intraocular (i.o.) chemotherapy with MTX (n=2) and/or rituximab (n=6) in 7, and ocular radiation in one patient(s). Two patients received prophylactic intrathecal (i.th.) treatment with MTX and none had whole-brain irradiation. The PIOL remission rate was 100% (complete remission in 11/14 evaluable patients and partial remission in 3 patients). Four patients relapsed in the brain after 5, 6, 21 and 23 months and received salvage treatment with MTX and/or ifosfamide (n=3) and HDCT with ASCT (n=1). No ocular or systemic relapses were observed. Median progression-free survival was 23 (95% confidence interval, 19-26) months. All patients are alive. Conclusions: Although the awareness of PIOL and diagnostic possibilities have improved over the past 2 decades, time from symptom presentation to diagnosis seems to remain at previously reported levels. There appears to be a shift from local ocular treatments and radiation to systemic therapy as compared to anecdotal data with promising response and survival rates.