Spontaneous regression of secondary vitreoretinal lymphoma after diagnostic vitrectomy: case report

PURPOSE: Our purpose is to report a patient with secondary intraocular mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) who experienced spontaneous regression after diagnostic vitrectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and imaging features of the case. Multimodal imaging, including fundus photograph, optical coherence tomography, fundus fluorescein angiography and ultrasound scan was presented. RESULTS: A 71-year-old female presented with a subretinal lesion temporal to macula and scattered multifocal creamy lesions deep to retina in her left eye. Optical coherence tomography of the left eye showed multifocal nodular hyper-reflective signals between the Bruch’s membrane and RPE. She had a history of gastric MALT lymphoma. Diagnostic vitrectomy was performed. IL-10 level of aqueous was 187.7pg/ml. Cytology, gene rearrangement and flow cytometry of the vitreous were inconclusive. Systemic evaluation was normal. Secondary vitreoretinal MALT lymphoma was considered. Interestingly, her subretinal lesions regressed gradually without any chemotherapy. And IL-10 level of aqueous declined to 64.3pg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary vitreoretinal MALT lymphoma is extremely rare. Spontaneous regression of intraocular lymphoma does occur. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-023-02967-5.