Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to establish the diagnosis of metastatic intraocular tumor in cases of no known primary or prior insufficient aspirate from a remote biopsy site. Methods: Retrospective descriptive analysis of all intraocular FNAB specimens (n=11) obtained and evaluated at one center during the interval March 1999 through September 2001 in which the FNAB indication was amelanotic melanoma versus metastatic carcinoma. Results: Papanicolaou staining was performed on alcohol-fixed smears of the aspirates prepared in the operating room. Immunocytochemical staining was performed as indicated on the basis of review of the cytomorphic features. A positive diagnosis of malignancy was obtained in 10 cases; 7 were melanomas, 3 were metastases, 1 was insufficient for diagnosis. A primary site was identified in all cases diagnosed as metastasis with the aid of immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: FNAB reduces the uncertainty associated with problematic intraocular tumors. Immunocytochemical stains can be particularly helpful in interpretation of the pathologic nature of amelanotic neoplasms. Stains for melanocytic-derived tumors, epithelial tumors, neuroendocrine tumors, and others can be used to support or refute a diagnosis in atypical cases. Intraocular FNAB can be performed to establish a diagnosis of metastasis when biopsy of another bodily site is insufficient, relatively inaccessible, or has been nondiagnostic.
Keywords: 610 tumors • 508 pathology techniques • 496 oncology