Intraocular reticulum cell sarcoma: diagnosis by choroidal biopsy

A patient with uveitis and retinal pigment epithelial detachments underwent an extensive medical examination and pars plana vitrectomy in an attempt to confirm the clinical diagnosis of reticulum cell sarcoma. None of these examinations revealed the presence of malignancy. Transscleral biopsy of subretinal lesions confirmed the histopathological diagnosis of reticulum cell sarcoma. The patient was begun on systemic chemotherapy and external beam radiation to the eye and orbit, with resultant preservation of the eye, vision, and probable extension of life because of early detection of reticulum cell sarcoma by choroidal biopsy. This technique may be advantageous in the diagnosis cases of eyes with clinical evidence of reticulum cell sarcoma, no systemic signs of malignancy, and negative vitreous biopsies.