Primary ocular natural killer/T-cell lymphomas: Clinicopathologic features and diagnosis

Purpose: Primary ocular natural killer/ T-cell lymphoma ( NKTL) is rare. This study aims to characterize the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment methods of primary ocular NKTL. Methods: Clinical data of seven patients with ocular NKTL from 1982 to 2004 were collected. A morphologic, immunohistochemical and molecular analysis was undertaken. Results: Clinical manifestations and computed tomography of the patients were typical. LCA CD56 CD3 epsilon Ki- 67 granzyme B ( GrB) and T- cell intracellular antigen- 1( TIA- 1) were mostly positive. Clonal T- cell- receptor gene rearrangements of five patients showed negative findings, and the detection of Epstein- Barr virus showed positive. All patients died 5 months to 28 months after presentation. Conclusion: Ocular NKTL is a highly aggressive clinical course with poor prognosis. The diagnosis relies on clinicopathologic findings. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.