Mycosis fungoides. Intraocular and central nervous system involvement
J. L. Keltner, E. Fritsch, R. C. Cykiert and D. M. Albert
A 58-year-old man with mycosis fungoides was treated with chemotherapeutic
agents and radiation for the recurrent cutaneous form of this disease. Five
years after the onset, he developed blurring of vision, neurologic signs,
and then lapsed into coma. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment resulted in
improvement of the ocular and systemic picture. Within three months,
however, the patient's vision deteriorated and swelling of both optic
discs, along with retinal and vitreous infiltrates, was noted. Local
radiation of the eyes was followed by improvement of the ocular changes.
Five months later the patient died. Results of a histologic examination of
the eyes showed extensive involvement of the retina and vitreous by tumor
cells. The CNS was remarkably free of tumor cells and it was assumed that
the radiation and chemotherapy were responsible for this.
