Diagnostic intraocular fine-needle aspiration biopsy - An experience in three cases of retinoblastoma

Ophthalmoscopically guided intraocular fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) under general anesthesia was performed in three suspected cases of retinob lastoma (Rb). The first case presented with uveitis and the second with unu sual radiological features. The third case had classical clinical features of bilateral Rb but the parents refused enucleation. After a cytologic diag nosis of retinoblastoma, two cases were subjected to enucleation and a hist ologic confirmation was obtained. The present article discusses the techniq ue of guided intraocular FNAB and its limitations as well as utility in the preoperative diagnosis of retinoblastoma (Rb). The authors are of the opin ion that FNAB should be considered a viable diagnostic option in selected c ases of leucocoria when conventional investigative modalities prove inconcl usive or for tissue diagnosis when a patient of suspected Rb refuses enucle ation. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:331-334. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.