Increasing Incidence of Ophthalmic Lymphoma in Denmark from 1980 to 2005

• Published in: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 2008-08, Vol.49 (8), p.3283-3288
• Main Authors: Sjo, Lene D, Ralfkiaer, Elisabeth, Prause, Jan U, Petersen, Jorgen H, Madsen, Jakob, Pedersen, Niels T, Heegaard, Steffen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Child; Child, Preschool; Denmark - epidemiology; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Eye Neoplasms - chemistry; Eye Neoplasms - classification; Eye Neoplasms - epidemiology; Eye Neoplasms - pathology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Incidence; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphoma - chemistry; Lymphoma - classification; Lymphoma - epidemiology; Lymphoma - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Ophthalmology; Sex Distribution; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0146-0404; 1552-5783; 1552-5783
• DOI: 10.1167/iovs.08-1768

To evaluate patient characteristics and incidence of ophthalmic lymphoma in Denmark during the period 1980 to 2005. All patients in Denmark with a diagnosis of ophthalmic lymphoma during the period 1980 to 2005 were retrieved from three different population-based registries. Specimens from all patients were collected and reclassified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system. Incidence rates were calculated by using Poisson regression models. A total of 228 patients with a histologically verified diagnosis of ophthalmic lymphoma were included. There was an equal distribution of males and females. The most frequent lymphoma subtype was extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MALT [mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue] lymphoma, 55.5%) and most cases were located in the orbit (56.8%). High-grade lymphoma subtypes were found more frequently in males than in females. Incidence rates were highly dependent on the patient's age. For all ages, a statistically significant annual average increase of 3.4% during the 26-year period was found. This increase was primarily due to a rise in the incidence of MALT lymphoma. In the Danish population ophthalmic lymphoma consists primarily of orbital MALT lymphoma. Although it is a rare disease in mostly elderly patients, the incidence of ophthalmic lymphoma is increasing at a rapid pace.