title: TWENTY-FIVE-GAUGE CANNULA-ASSISTED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY OF CHOROIDAL MELANOMA: Cytopathological Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report cytopathological observations on the cells retrieved from the 25-G cannula used during prognostic transvitreal fine-needle aspiration biopsy of choroidal melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transvitreal fine-needle aspiration biopsy of choroidal melanoma was performed through a 25-G valved cannula. Twenty samples from 20 consecutive patients were obtained. Most tumors were treated with plaque radiation therapy (16/20, 80%) following standard clinical guidelines. Four enucleated globes (4/20, 20%) were subjected to a similar transvitreal biopsy before enucleation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cytopathological analysis of the cells retrieved from the cannula revealed the absence of any cells in 4 of 20 samples (20%). In the remaining 16 samples, definite melanoma cells and atypical cells (probable melanoma cells) were observed in 2 samples each (total 4, 25%). Histiocytes (4/16, 25%) and lymphocytes (1/16, 6%) were also observed. Thirteen samples (13/16, 81%) contained conjunctival epithelial epithelium. Prognostication could be performed on all fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples (20, 100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a 25-G valved cannula offers potential advantages by isolating the needle tract and by allowing retrieval of the contaminating cells without affecting the prognostic yield of the fine-needle aspiration biopsy sample.
authors.affiliation: *Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland, Ohio; †Department of Ophthalmology, Buenos Aires University and Maimonides University, Buenos Aires, ‡Department of Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Arun D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Hassan A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pelayes
authors.forename: Charles V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Biscotti
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D000098943:Uveal Melanoma