Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2006 Aug;90(8):1004-9.
doi: 10.1136/bjo.2006.090589. Epub 2006 May 3.

Primary lymphoma of the lacrimal sac: an EORTC ophthalmic oncology task force study

L D Sjö  1 , E Ralfkiaer, B R Juhl, J U Prause, T Kivelä, C Auw-Haedrich, F Bacin, M Carrera, S E Coupland, B Delbosc, N Ducrey, B Kantelip, J L Kemeny, P Meyer, N C Sjö, S Heegaard; European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer
Affiliations

Primary lymphoma of the lacrimal sac: an EORTC ophthalmic oncology task force study

L D Sjö et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006 Aug.

Abstract

Aim: To define the clinical and histopathological characteristics of primary lacrimal sac lymphoma in a predominantly white population.

Methods: Specimens of lacrimal sac lymphoma and follow up data were solicited from members of the Ophthalmic Oncology Task Force of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the European Ophthalmic Pathology Society (EOPS). Specimens were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and an immunohistochemical panel against leucocyte antigens was applied. Diagnosis was reached by consensus of five experienced pathologists according to the World Health Organization classification system. The histopathological findings were correlated with the clinical data.

Results: Of 15 primary lacrimal sac lymphomas, five (33%) were diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), five (33%) were extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma), three were classified as "transitional MALT lymphoma," being in transition from MALT lymphoma to DLBCL, and two were unclassified B cell lymphomas. Nine of the patients were female, and the median age at the time of diagnosis was 71 years (range 45-95 years). The most frequent presenting symptoms were epiphora (85%), swelling in the region of the lacrimal sac (79%), and dacryocystitis (21%). All but one patient presented in stage I. Systemic spread occurred in three of nine patients (33%). The 5 year overall survival was 65%.

Conclusions: DLBCL and MALT lymphoma are equally common in the lacrimal sac in contrast with the remaining periorbital and/or orbital region where MALT lymphoma predominates.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: none.

Comment in

  • Expect the unexpected.
    Francis IC, Wilcsek G. Francis IC, et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006 Aug;90(8):936-7. doi: 10.1136/bjo.2006.097451. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006. PMID: 16854834 Free PMC article.

References

    1. Knowles D M, Jakobiec F A. Ocular adnexal lymphoid neoplasms: clinical, histopathologic, electron microscopic, and immunologic characteristics. Hum Pathol 198213148–162. - PubMed
    1. Specht C S. Benign and malignant lymphoid tumors, leukemia and histiocytic lesions. In: Albert DM, Jakobiec FA, eds. Principles and practice of ophthalmology. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 19943328–3350.
    1. Jaffe E S, Harris N L, Stein H.et alWorld Health Organization classification of tumours. Pathology and genetics of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Lyons: IARC Press, 2001
    1. Coupland S E, Krause L, Delecluse H J.et al Lymphoproliferative lesions of the ocular adnexa. Analysis of 112 cases. Ophthalmology 19981051430–1441. - PubMed
    1. Coupland S E, Hellmich M, Auw‐Haedrich C.et al Prognostic value of cell‐cycle markers in ocular adnexal lymphoma: an assessment of 230 cases. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2004242130–145. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms