[Transretinal Biopsy of Intraocular Lymphoma]

Intraocular lymphoma is in most cases a diagnostic challenge. Gold standard is a diagnostic vitrectomy. Vitreous biopsy and transretinal biopsies are therefore employed.

A retrospective analysis was undertaken of all cases of cytological or histological proven intraocular lymphoma between 2002 and the beginning of 2015 in our clinic.

The diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma could be established in 16 cases by cytological or histological analysis. Six patients had previously been treated with steroids in the assumption of uveitis. Five of 16 patients had a systemic or CNS lymphoma in their history. The diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma could be made on the basis of a vitreous biopsy in only in 3 cases. In 7 cases an additional vitrectomy with transretinal biopsy was needed. In 1 case a transretinal biopsy was performed initially and in 1 case a re-transretinal biopsy was needed to establish the diagnosis. Two patients underwent iris biopsy to diagnose a secondary metastatic intraocular lymphoma. One amaurotic eye was diagnosed with intraocular lymphoma after enucleation.

Due to the high relevance for the diagnosis intraocular lymphoma, when a vitreous biopsy was non-informative, a transretinal biopsy should always be considered in cases of retinal or subretinal involvement.