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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Glioma-infiltrating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Published on: November 28, 2015
Diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma by flow cytometry
J L Davis1, A L Viciana, P Ruiz
1Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33136, USA. jdavis@bpei.med.miami.edu
Insights
Flow cytometry of vitreous cells effectively diagnoses intraocular lymphoma and ocular inflammatory disease, offering a valuable alternative or adjunct to traditional cytology methods for improved diagnostic accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Hematology
- Immunology
Background:
- Intraocular lymphoma and ocular inflammatory diseases present diagnostic challenges.
- Vitreous cellular specimens are crucial for diagnosis but can be difficult to interpret.
- Cytology has limitations in diagnosing these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate flow cytometry of vitreous cellular specimens for diagnosing intraocular lymphoma.
- To assess the utility of flow cytometry in differentiating ocular inflammatory diseases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of 20 patients with vitreous cellular infiltration.
- Flow cytometry (cytofluorography) used for immunophenotyping of vitreous cells.
- Comparison of flow cytometry results with cytopathology and final diagnoses.
Main Results:
- Flow cytometry diagnosed intraocular lymphoma in 70% of cases, compared to 30% with cytology.
- Distinguished lymphoma from uveitis/infections by identifying monotypic populations and analyzing cell activation markers.
- Identified lymphoma in patients with prior treatment that rendered cytology uninterpretable.
Conclusions:
- Vitreous cell cytofluorography is an effective diagnostic tool for intraocular lymphoma and inflammatory conditions.
- Provides valuable information from specimens uninterpretable by routine cytology.
- May serve as an alternative or adjunct to conventional cytopathology.
Purpose:
To evaluate flow cytometry of vitreous cellular specimens as a means of diagnosing intraocular lymphoma and ocular inflammatory disease.
Methods:
We undertook a retrospective, observational study of hematopoietic cell-surface markers in 20 patients with vitreous cellular infiltration in whom lymphoma was considered in the differential diagnosis. Immunophenotyping of vitreous cells obtained by vitrectomy was performed by flow cytometry using antibodies directed against specific cell-surface antigens, including ones associated with B-lymphocyte and T-lymphocyte lymphomas and activated inflammatory cells. Smears were examined cytologically. Cytofluorography was compared with the cytopathologic diagnosis and with final diagnosis.
Results:
With flow cytometry, a diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma was confirmed in two of four patients with known lymphoma, one of whom had recurrent disease after radiation, and not confirmed in two patients who had had prior treatment with radiation or corticosteroids. In six patients with no prior diagnosis of lymphoma, five were diagnosed with lymphoma on the basis of cytofluorography. Thus, seven (70%) of 10 patients with intraocular lymphoma were diagnosed by cytofluorography compared with three (30%) of 10 with lymphoma diagnosed by cytology. With flow cytometry, 10 patients with uveitis or intraocular infections were distinguishable from patients with lymphoma by lack of a monotypic population and, in some cases, by elevated CD4:CD8 ratios and a high percentage of activated cells.
Conclusions:
Cytofluorography of vitreous cells is an effective alternative or adjunct to cytology. Information can be gained from specimens that are uninterpretable by routine cytology. The optimal technique for diagnosis may vary among institutions.
