Fine-needle aspiration cytology of orbital and eyelid lesions

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of orbital lesions is now increasingly popular. Because of its unique location and the occurrence of varieties of lesions, diagnosis of orbital lesion is a challenge to the cytopathologists. FNAC of orbital and eyelid tumors is a suitable diagnostic technique that necessitates close co-operation between the ophthalmologist and pathologist. No radical procedure should be planned on the basis of FNAC, but it allows the diagnosis of a new primary lesion or the recurrence or metastasis of a tumor and can be done to identify lesions that require either specific medical therapy, as in nonresectable, inflammatory, and lymphoid tumors, or limited surgery for benign resectable neoplasms. With the help of various ancillary techniques a definitive diagnosis is possible on orbital and adnexal lesions. It is essential to have a detailed knowledge on the FNAC of these lesions and their potential pitfalls. In this present review, we have discussed various orbital lesions, their clinical presentations, cytomorphology, and ancillary techniques to confirm the diagnosis.