Two-year Outcomes of Ultra-low-dose Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Ocular Adnexal B-cell Lymphomas

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study focuses on the efficacy and 2-year outcomes of ultra-low-dose radiotherapy (RT) in treating primary and secondary ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with OAL between 2017 and 2022, treated with 4 Gy of RT. The primary and secondary outcomes assessed were response rate, progression-free survival, and lymphoma-related death. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients with primary and secondary OAL of diverse, presentations, subtypes, and stages were included. The orbital tumors had an average size of 17 × 16 × 16 mm. Of the 14 primary OAL cases, 3 (14%) had T1N0M0 disease, 8 (38%) T2N0M0, and 3 (14%) T3N0M0 (AJCC 8th edition staging); of the 7 secondary OALs, 4 (19%) were stage IE, 2 (10%) stage IIE, and 1 (5%) stage IIIE (Ann Arbor staging). Ultra-low-dose RT yielded a 95% complete response rate and 100% progression-free survival rates, both locally and systemically at 2 years. Mild dry eyes were reported in 14% of patients as a late treatment toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Ultra-low-dose RT emerges as an effective and well-tolerated treatment approach for OAL. Our findings support the use of 4 Gy, showcasing high complete response rates (95%) and durable disease control without significant local relapses over an average follow up of 27 months. Our results align with earlier investigations, validating the curative potential of ultra-low-dose RT and reinforcing the concept of achieving favorable outcomes with minimal intervention. This approach may potentially alleviate the burden of long-term ocular side effects associated with higher radiation doses, enhancing the overall quality of life for OAL patients.