Macular edema is a rare finding in untreated vitreoretinal lymphoma: small case series and review of the literature

Background To determine the occurrence of macular edema (ME) in vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL). Methods Retrospective analysis of 17 patients (31 eyes) with VRL. A review of the literature was done as well. Results Nine patients (15 eyes) had fluorescein angiography and/or optical coherence tomography at presentation. In the ME group (six eyes of four patients), three patients (five eyes) had prior chemotherapy and radiation. Excluding eyes with radiation retinopathy (three eyes), rate of ME was 25% (3/12). When two unirradiated fellow eyes of eyes with radiation retinopathy were also excluded, ME rate was 10% (1/10). Excluding the eyes with intraocular surgery, the rate of ME was 0%. In the group without ME (nine eyes of six patients), one patient (one eye) was treated with chemotherapy and radiation and three patients (five eyes) with chemotherapy. Review of the literature showed that the ME was found between 2 and 60% of cases, but most of the cases with ME had prior interventions. Conclusions Macular edema in VRL is not uncommon but usually related to prior interventions. Macular edema as an initial presentation of VRL is rare.