title: Diagnostic procedures in vitreoretinal lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the type and number of diagnostic interventions needed to confirm the presence of vitreoretinal lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chart review of interventions performed for diagnosis of vitreoretinal lymphoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 27 cases, diagnosis was made by pars plana vitrectomy in 13 (48.1%), vitreous tap in 2 (7.4%), anterior chamber tap in 1 (3.7%), chorioretinal biopsy in 2 (7.4%), brain biopsy in 5 (18.5%), and cerebrospinal fluid cytology via lumbar puncture in 4 (14.8%). Ten (37%) had definitive results on the first procedure, and 17 (63%) had at least one false negative. Vitrectomy was the most common procedure performed. Patients required a mean of 2.1 procedures. Average time from onset of symptoms to confirmed histopathologic diagnosis was 13.9 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitreoretinal lymphoma is difficult to recognize and requires a high degree of clinical suspicion. It often takes more than one invasive procedure to make the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , United States .
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalal
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casady
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moriarty
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Faia
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nussenblatt
authors.forename: Chi-Chao
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: H Nida
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Biopsy; diagnosis; masquerade; vitrectomy; vitreoretinal lymphoma