PURPOSE: Systemic metastatic retinal lymphoma (SMRL) originates in systemic organs. It has been reported to exhibit clinical features similar to those of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL). We report six cases of SMRL in a single-center survey in Japan. METHODS: The clinical and pathologic features in SMRL at the Kyushu University Hospital were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: The mean patient age at the onset of ocular involvement was 75.3 years. Four patients had brain involvement. The primary sites were: breast (2); chest (1); testis (1); intestinal tract (1); and nasal sinus (1). In all patients, the cytology of vitreous samples indicated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). CONCLUSIONS: DLBCL is the most common subtype in our study. The prevalence of CNS involvement in patients with SMRL is similar to that with PVRL. The testis and breast may be common sites of origin for SMRL.
PURPOSE: Systemic metastatic retinal lymphoma (SMRL) originates in systemic organs. It has been reported to exhibit clinical features similar to those of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL). We report six cases of SMRL in a single-center survey in Japan. METHODS: The clinical and pathologic features in SMRL at the Kyushu University Hospital were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: The mean patient age at the onset of ocular involvement was 75.3 years. Four patients had brain involvement. The primary sites were: breast (2); chest (1); testis (1); intestinal tract (1); and nasal sinus (1). In all patients, the cytology of vitreous samples indicated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). CONCLUSIONS: DLBCL is the most common subtype in our study. The prevalence of CNS involvement in patients with SMRL is similar to that with PVRL. The testis and breast may be common sites of origin for SMRL.