title: EPITHELIAL DOWNGROWTH IN THE VITREOUS CAVITY AND ON THE RETINA IN ENUCLEATED SPECIMENS AND IN EYES WITH VISUAL POTENTIAL.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report clinical course and visual and anatomical outcomes of six eyes with histopathologically confirmed vitreous cavity and retina epithelial downgrowth.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective 15-year review of archived pathologic slides and corresponding medical records of patients with vitreous cavity and retina epithelial downgrowth. Posterior segment epithelial downgrowth was defined as epithelial or goblet cells in the vitreous cavity or on the surface of the retina.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathologic diagnosis of epithelial downgrowth was made in 122 patients. Of those, 6 patients (5%) had vitreous cavity and retina epithelial downgrowth. Three patients developed blind painful eye, and epithelial downgrowth was identified in enucleated specimens. The other three eyes with visual potential presented with tractional retinal detachments. Epithelial downgrowth was identified in epiretinal membranes obtained during pars plana vitrectomy. The latter group had more previous surgeries (P = 0.03), and all had keratoprosthesis implantation as their last surgery. All three had pathologic specimens obtained at the time of the keratoprosthesis implantation; no anterior segment epithelial downgrowth was noted in two patients, and one patient had involvement of corneal button, iris, and posterior capsule. Final visual acuity ranged from hand motion to light perception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the current study, vitreous cavity and retina epithelial downgrowth occurred after multiple intraocular surgeries, including repair of the open globe injuries both in enucleated specimens and in eyes with visual potential. In eyes with visual potential, keratoprosthesis implantation seems to predispose the development of posterior segment epithelial downgrowth.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; and †Florida Lions Ocular Pathology Laboratory, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida.
authors.forename: Aleksandra V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Rachitskaya
authors.forename: Sander R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dubovy
authors.forename: Rehan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Victor L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Eduardo C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.forename: Audina M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Berrocal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology*