Vitreoretinal lymphoma with central nervous system involvement in a patient with sarcoidosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:To describe a case of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma with central nervous system involvement in a patient with sarcoidosis. METHODS:Single, retrospective chart review. PATIENT:A 59-year-old man with sarcoidosis. RESULTS:The patient presented with a 3-year history of bilateral panuveitis thought secondary to his sarcoidosis diagnosed 11 years before. Shortly before presentation, the patient demonstrated recurrent uveitis with a lack of response to aggressive immunosuppression therapy. At presentation, ocular examination showed significant anterior and posterior inflammation. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated hyperfluorescence of the optic nerve with late and small vessel leakage in the right eye. The patient also described a two-month history of memory and word-finding deficits. An inflammatory and infectious disease work-up was unremarkable. A brain MRI showed multiple enhancing periventricular lesions with vasogenic edema, whereas a lumbar puncture was negative for malignant cells. A diagnostic pars plana vitrectomy confirmed a diagnosis of large B-cell lymphoma. CONCLUSION:Sarcoidosis and vitreoretinal lymphoma are known masqueraders. Recurrent inflammation typical of sarcoid uveitis may mask a more sinister diagnosis such as vitreoretinal lymphoma. Furthermore, sarcoid uveitis treatment with corticosteroids may transiently improve symptoms, but further delay a timely diagnosis of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma.