Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma: short review of the literature, results of a European survey and French guidelines of the LOC network for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

Purpose of review The aim of this study was to highlight the diagnostic and management challenges of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) through a review of the literature and a European survey on real-life practices for PVRL. Recent findings The care of PVRL patients is heterogeneous between specialists and countries. Upfront systemic treatment based on high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy, with or without local treatment, might reduce or delay the risk of brain relapse. Ibrutinib, lenalidomide with or without rituximab, and temozolomide are effective for patients with relapsed/refractory PVRL and should be tested as first-line treatments. The prognosis of PVRL remains dismal. No firm conclusion regarding optimal treatment can yet be drawn. The risk of brain relapse remains high. Diagnostic procedures and assessment of therapeutic responses need to be homogenized. Collaboration between specialists involved in PVRL and multicentric prospective therapeutic studies are strongly needed. The recommendations of the French group for primary oculocerebral lymphoma (LOC network) are provided, as a basis for further European collaborative work.