Esophageal carcinoma metastatic to the retina. Diagnosis of a case by cytologic examination of intraocular vitreous washings.
BACKGROUND
The most common primary tumors of the eye are melanomas in adults and retinoblastomas in children. Although generally not recognized, metastases to the eye are more frequent than primary tumors.


RESULTS
Occult esophageal carcinoma metastasized to the retina in a 51-year-old woman. The cytologic diagnosis of carcinoma was established on intraocular vitreous washings. Further workup disclosed an adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, confirmed by brushings and biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
The cytologic features of the intraocular aspirate allowed a rapid and reliable diagnosis that led to further investigation.
Cangiarella
J F
JF
Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.
Suhrland
M J
MJ
Cajigas
A
A
Chess
J
J
Koss
L G
LG
Berkowitz
D
D
Schlesinger
K
K
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology