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Br J Ophthalmol 2006;90:690-692 doi:10.1136/bjo.2005.087346
  • Clinical science
    • Scientific reports

Anterior chamber paracentesis cytology (cytospin technique) for the diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma

  1. P T Finger1,2,
  2. C Papp3,
  3. P Latkany2,3,4,
  4. M Kurli1,2,
  5. C E Iacob2
  1. 1New York Eye Cancer Center, 115 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10021, USA
  2. 2The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, 310 E. 14th Street, New York, NY 10003, USA
  3. 3St Luke’s Roosevelt Medical Center, 1111 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025, USA
  4. 4New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
  1. Correspondence to: Paul T Finger MD, The New York Eye Cancer Center, 115 E 61st Street, New York City, NY 10021, USA; pfinger{at}eyecancer.com
  • Accepted 7 February 2006
  • Published Online First 17 February 2006

Abstract

Aim: To report on the diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma by aqueous cytology.

Methods: Four patients suspected of having intraocular lymphoma were evaluated by anterior chamber (AC) paracentesis with cytology (cytospin technique). All had a history of non-ocular lymphoma and presented with at least one plus anterior chamber cells despite intensive glucocorticoid therapy. A 25 gauge needle was inserted through clear cornea (bevel up), over the iris stroma, so as to drain the AC. The aqueous humour was sent for cytopathology (cytospin technique), culture, and sensitivity tests.

Results: All procedures were diagnostic. Three were lymphoma and the fourth was culture positive for Propionibacterium endophthalmitis. No secondary glaucoma, hyphaema, cataract or infections were related to AC paracentesis.

Conclusions: In this series, AC aspiration cytology enhanced by the cytospin technique was an effective, minimally invasive alternative to vitrectomy based biopsy. This technique should be considered to rule in the diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma in selected cases with cells in the anterior chamber.

Footnotes

  • Supported by The EyeCare Foundation and Research to Prevent Blindness, New York City, USA.

  • The authors have no proprietary interest in the products mentioned in this study. This work has not been published elsewhere.

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