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Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:238-239 doi:10.1136/bjo.2004.047001
  • Letter

Demonstration of identical clonal derivation in a case of “oculocerebral” lymphoma

  1. S E Coupland1,
  2. M Hummel1,
  3. H Stein1,
  4. G Willerding2,
  5. K Jahnke3,
  6. G Stoltenburg-Didinger4
  1. 1Department of Pathology, Charité-Medical Faculty Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
  2. 2Department of Ophthalmology, Charité-Medical Faculty Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
  3. 3Department of Hematology, Charité-Medical Faculty Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
  4. 4Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Medical Faculty Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
  1. Correspondence to: Dr Sarah Coupland Department of Pathology, Charité-Medical Faculty Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin Hindenburgdamm 30, D-12200 Berlin, Germany; sarah.couplandcharite.de
  • Accepted 2 June 2004

Primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL) is a high grade malignant non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) usually of B cell type, involving the retina and vitreous. PIOL can occur independently or together with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL; the combination termed “oculocerebral lymphoma”). Because of its slow onset and ability to simulate other conditions, the diagnosis of PIOL remains challenging. A number of techniques, including conventional cytology, immunocytology, flow cytometry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and biochemical analysis of vitreous samples, are recommended to aid the diagnostic procedure.1–8 We report a case of oculocerebral lymphoma, whereby IgH-PCR and GeneScan analysis confirmed the histological diagnosis by demonstration of the identical clonal B cell populations in both the vitreous and stereotactic biopsy.

CASE REPORT

A 51 year old systemically healthy man presented in March 2002 with an epileptic fit. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass with intensive contrast enhancement in the left fronto-parietal area. A stereotactic biopsy was performed, establishing the diagnosis of a high grade malignant B …

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