title: Subretinal fluid analysis in the diagnosis of choroidal tuberculosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diagnosis of intraocular tuberculosis is often difficult. A choroidal granulomalike lesion suspected to be the result of tuberculosis could be of other inflammatory, infective, or neoplastic causes. We report two cases in which a choroidal granuloma with exudative retinal detachment was diagnosed as tuberculosis by the detection of acid-fast bacilli in subretinal fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional case series.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two female patients had choroidal granulomas with surrounding exudative retinal detachment. Detailed laboratory investigations were unhelpful in diagnosis, and the patients' conditions worsened with systemic steroid therapy. Subretinal fluid was tapped and revealed acid-fast bacilli and grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis on culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subretinal fluid analysis can help in the detection of tuberculous granuloma and facilitate successful management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, Joseph Eye Hospital, Tiruchirapalli, India. amjad26@sify.com
authors.forename: Amjad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.forename: Pragya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parmar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajamohan
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jesudasan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology*; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D014392:Tuberculosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents