Intravascular lymphoma mimicking a Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2011 Apr;19(2):132-4. doi: 10.3109/09273948.2010.531896.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of intravascular lymphoma (IVL) mimicking a Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH).

Design: Case report.

Methods: A 38-year-old man was referred for blurred vision, headache, and hearing loss. Examination demonstrated vitritis and subretinal detachments in each eye. Cerebral fluid analysis showed lymphocytic meningitis. Cerebral MRI was normal. A diagnosis of VKH disease was made.

Results: Steroid treatment was introduced, after which all symptoms disappeared. Six months later, the patient returned with paraplegia and confusion. Cerebral MRI revealed hypodense periventricular lesions. A stereotaxic biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of IVL. The patient died a few months later.

Conclusion: IVL may have many revealing aspects, including ophthalmologic symptoms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy / methods
  • Brain / pathology
  • Confusion / etiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma / complications
  • Lymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma / psychology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Paraplegia / etiology
  • Stereotaxic Techniques
  • Steroids / therapeutic use
  • Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / complications
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Vascular Neoplasms / psychology
  • Vision Disorders / diagnosis
  • Vision Disorders / etiology

Substances

  • Steroids