J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2025 Feb;66(2):101-113. 10.3341/jkos.2025.66.2.101.

Therapeutic Effects of Intravitreal Methotrexate Injection for Intraocular Lymphoma Diagnosed Using Immunocytochemical Staining

• Na YJ
• Kwon KY
• Kim KY
• Chang YS
• Kim JT

• KMID: 2564936
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2025.66.2.101

Abstract

Purpose
This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of intravitreal methotrexate (MTX) injections in patients diagnosed with intraocular lymphoma via vitrectomy and immunocytochemical staining.
Methods
In a retrospective analysis of medical records, we reviewed data from four patients (six eyes) diagnosed with intraocular lymphoma cytologically after undergoing vitrectomy at our hospital between December 2021 and December 2023. Each case was followed for a minimum of 6 months after treatment, with comparisons made between pre- and post-treatment observations
Results
The mean age of the patients was 63.5 ± 9.8 years, with an average interval of 29.3 ± 32.0 months from initial symptom onset to intraocular lymphoma diagnosis. Diagnosis was confirmed through cytological and immunocytochemical analysis of vitreous specimens, identifying diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in four eyes and atypical lymphoid cells in two eyes. On average, 14.0 ± 1.7 intravitreal MTX injections were administered per eye. The mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 1.18 ± 0.90 pre-treatment to 0.37 ± 0.70 post-treatment. Ophthalmic complications included toxic keratopathy in three eyes and retinal hemorrhage in one eye. Additionally, nasal cavity lymphoma was diagnosed in two patients.
Conclusions
Diagnostic vitrectomy combined with cytology and immunocytochemical staining is essential for the early diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma and differentiation from inflammatory diseases, such as uveitis. Intravitreal MTX injections can induce clinical remission in intraocular lymphoma cases.

Keyword

Immunocytochemical staining, Intraocular lymphoma, Methotrexate