Ophthalmic, ultrasonographic findings in primary central nervous system lymphoma with ocular involvement.

PURPOSE: To describe and classify ophthalmic, ultrasonographic findings in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma with ocular involvement.

METHODS

B- and A-scan ultrasonography was performed on the eyes of 13 patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma with ocular involvement.

RESULTS

In seven patients, the eyes were the site of initial involvement. In the other six patients, both ocular and central nervous system disease were present at the initial evaluation. All patients had abnormal ultrasonographic findings. The most common were vitreous debris (n = 10), choroidal-scleral thickening (n = 6), and widening of the optic nerve (n = 4). Elevated chorioretinal lesions (n = 3) and retinal detachment (n = 2) were also found.

CONCLUSION

Ophthalmic ultrasonography is a useful adjunctive diagnostic technique for characterizing ocular involvement in lymphoma. Ocular lymphoma may present as chorioretinitis, vitreitis and nonspecific uveitis; it produces characteristic, but nonspecific findings on ultrasonography. The diagnosis of ocular involvement is an important factor in determining treatment.