Extranodal B-cell lymphoma of the uvea: a case report

Ocular involvement by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a rare condition that can result from a primary intraocular lymphoma of the retina or an intraocular manifestation of systemic lymphoma. Uveal involvement is seldom the initial manifestation of extranodal lymphoma. We describe an 80-year-old patient with a blind and painful left eye and a history of recurrent uveitis. After ultrasound evaluation, the eye was enucleated and histopathologic examination revealed a malignant B-cell lymphoma of the uveal tract. The patient has been followed for 8 years after surgery, but she has had no further systemic manifestations of lymphoma and has not required subsequent treatment.

Primary extranodal lymphoma can be easily mistaken for recurrent uveitis or primary intraocular lymphoma of the retina and central nervous system; it is a differential diagnosis to be considered in cases of recurrent uveitis-like symptoms evolving to blind painful eye.