Is it Worthwhile to Undergo the Extended Stage Assessment in Orbital and Ocular Adnexal MALT Lymphoma with Symptoms Limited to the Ocular Adnexa?

Compared to ocular adnexal lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type (OAML) patients with symptoms related invasion beyond the ocular adnexa, the different approaches to staging assessment may be required in OAML patients with symptoms limited to the ocular adnexa. Seventy-six patients to be diagnosed with OAML and performed bone marrow biopsy and imaging study at Yeungnam University Hospital in 1995-2014 were enrolled. Patients with symptoms limited to the ocular adnexa were included. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), and bone marrow biopsies were performed for diagnosis, NM staging and follow up evaluation. Most patients were treated with external beam irradiation (median dose, 30 Gray (Gy)). The relapse-free survival (RFS) was analyzed according to the tumor laterality and TNM stage. The median follow-up period was 72 months. The 5-year RFS and overall survival rates were 82.1% and 95.6% respectively. Of all 76 patients, lymph node and bone marrow involvement was identified in 1 patient, respectively. Among the 3 patients with T4 stage as tumor invasion beyond ocular adnexa, bone marrow involvement was confirmed in a patient with left cheek invasion. Only 11 of the 43 patients who underwent PET showed positive uptakes in orbital lesion. The patients with advanced stage were alive without recurrences. Bone marrow examination is useful in OAML patients with T4 for extended stage assessment. The AJCC TNM staging system was not significantly predictive factor for relapse, but may contribute to clarifying the patient group that needs bone marrow study. © Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion 2021.