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Ocular adnexal lymphoma in Denmark: a nationwide study of 387 cases from 1980 to 2017
  1. Frederik Holm1,
  2. Lauge Hjorth Mikkelsen1,2,
  3. Peter Kamper3,
  4. Peter Kristian Rasmussen2,
  5. Thomas Stauffer Larsen4,
  6. Lene Dissing Sjö5,
  7. Steffen Heegaard1,2
  1. 1 Department of Pathology, Eye Pathology Section, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  2. 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  3. 3 Department of Hematology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
  4. 4 Department of Hematology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
  5. 5 Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  1. Correspondence to Steffen Heegaard, Department of Pathology, Eye Pathology Section, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Teilum-bygningen, Frederik V’s Vej 11, 1st Floor, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark; sthe{at}sund.ku.dk

Abstract

Background Nationwide studies of ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL) are very rare in the literature, and knowledge on incidence, subtype distribution and long-term survival data is limited. This is the largest national study of OAL to date. This study sought to find information on incidence, changes in incidence, clinical findings, distribution of subtypes, survival and prognostic factors.

Methods Patients diagnosed with OAL from January 1, 1980 to December 31, 2017 were identified in Danish registers, and clinical as well as survival data were collected. The data were analysed with Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank test.

Results 387 patients were included in the study. The major lymphoma subtypes were extranodal marginal-zone B cell lymphoma (EMZL) (55%), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (13%), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (11%) and follicular lymphoma (FL) (10%). OAL is a disease of the elderly (median age 69 years). The incidence of lymphoma of the ocular adnexal region has increased significantly throughout the time period of the study (Pearson correlation coefficient, r=0.65; P<0.001). In the period 1980–1984, the incidence was 0.086 per 100 000, which increased to 0.307 per 100 000 in the period 2013–2017. Low-grade, low-stage primary lymphomas were treated with radiotherapy, whereas patients with high-stage, high-grade and/or relapsed disease were treated with chemotherapy. Low-grade subtypes EMZL (89%) and FL (56%) had better 10-year disease-specific survival than the high-grade lymphomas DLBCL (38%) and MCL (31%)(p<0.001).

Conclusion OAL is increasing in incidence in the Danish population for unknown reasons. However, the prognosis for most OAL is favourable, as highlighted in this national long-term study.

  • Neoplasia

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Footnotes

  • Presented at the 55th annual meeting of Ophthalmic Oncology Group (OOG), St Bartholomew’s Hospital, West Smithfield, London, UK, April 11–13, 2019.

  • Twitter @HjorthLauge.

  • Contributors FH, LHM, PKR, LDS and SH designed the research. FH and LHM performed the research. FH, LHM, PK, PKR, TSL, LDS and SH collected data. FH, LHM and SH analysed and interpreted data. FH performed the statistical analysis. FH and LHM wrote the manuscript. FH, LHM, PK, PKR, TSL, LDS and SH performed critical revision of the manuscript.

  • Funding This study was supported by grants from Synoptik-Fonden, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Fight for Sight, Copenhagen, Denmark. The funding sources played no role in the design of the study; collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication. Lauge Hjorth Mikkelsen was funded by Candys Foundation.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

  • Data availability statement Data are available upon reasonable request.

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