Intravitreal rituximab for the treatment of a secondary intraocular relapse of a large B-cell lymphoma

To report a rare case of secondary intraocular lymphoma treated with intravitreal rituximab, following pars plana vitrectomy.

A 74-year-old female with history of parotid gland large B-cell lymphoma presented bilateral intraocular recurrence 10 years after the onset of the primary malignancy. Systemic work-up including PET/CT Scan, bone marrow biopsy, brain MRI and CSF analysis were unremarkable, and the patient declined to undergo systemic chemotherapy. Vision loss in her left eye was severe due to significant sub-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) infiltration involving the macula; this eye was treated with external beam radiation therapy. On the right eye, the relapse manifested with vitreous involvement and fovea-sparing multifocal, sub-RPE infiltration for which the patient received monthly intravitreal rituximab injections, following pars plana vitrectomy. Through the course of therapy, the patient achieved good local control and maintained 20/20 visual acuity on her right eye. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) surveillance, every 3 months, was performed and revealed a cerebellar recurrence 24 months into the course of therapy.

Our case illustrates how intravitreal immunotherapy with rituximab may provide local control of CD-20 positive secondary intraocular lymphoma; particularly in cases where systemic therapy is not amenable. In our case, a prior vitrectomy, did not appear to interfere with the therapeutic effect of intravitreal rituximab. Close quarterly surveillance with Brain MRI may help disclose central nervous system recurrences in such cases.