Radiotherapy of Orbital and Ocular Adnexa Lymphoma: Literature Review and University of Catania Experience

Abstract

Orbital and ocular adnexa lymphomas are rare neoplasms confined to the orbital region. The prognosis is generally favorable, with a high proportion of localized disease, indolent clinical course, prolonged disease-free intervals, and low lymphoma-related mortality rate. We report our experience on eleven patients with confirmed histological diagnosis of lymphoma stage IE-IIE, treated between 2010 and 2021 with radiotherapy alone or in association with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Eight patients were treated with primary radiotherapy only, while three received previous systemic treatments. Six patients were treated with Proton beam therapy (PBT), and five with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The five-year local control rate was 98%; only one patient developed an out-of-field recurrence. We also conducted a comprehensive literature review using electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library). Articles were selected based on their pertinence to treatment of the ocular and adnexal lymphoma focusing on radiotherapy techniques (electron beam radiotherapy, photon beam radiotherapy, or proton beam radiotherapy), treatment total dose, fractionation schedule, early and late radio-induced toxicities, and patient's clinical outcome. Radiotherapy is an effective treatment option for orbital lymphoma, especially as standard treatment in the early stage of orbital lymphoma, with excellent local control rate and low rates of toxicity.

Keywords: lymphoma; ocular oncology; orbit; orbital tumors; proton beam radiotherapy; radiation oncology; radiotherapy.

Figure 1

Flow chart of treatment.