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Transretinal biopsy via 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for retinal and choroidal tumors: cytopathological results, surgical complications, and patient outcomes

  • Clinical Investigation
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Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the cytopathological results, surgical complications, and patient outcomes after transretinal biopsy (TRB) for diagnosis of retinal/choroidal tumors

Methods

Records of 40 cases who underwent TRB via 23-gauge (23 G) pars plana vitrectomy between March 2011 and March 2020 were reviewed.

Study design

Retrospective.

Results

Twenty-six (65.0%) cases were women and 14 (35.0%) were men. The mean age at diagnosis was 57.2 (range: 18–83) years. The mean tumor base diameter was 12.0×9.8 mm and the mean tumor thickness was 4.9 mm. According to cytopathological examination, 29 (72.5%) cases had choroidal melanoma, 2 (5.0%) had non-small cell lung cancer metastasis, 1 (2.5%) had adenoma of retinal pigment epithelium, 1 (2.5%) had small cell lung cancer metastasis, 1 (2.5%) had invasive breast cancer metastasis, 1 (2.5%) had retinal astrocytic hamartoma, and 1 (2.5%) had pseudoneoplastic gliosis. Cytopathological examination of 4 (10.0%) cases revealed findings consistent with macular and extramacular degeneration. Postoperative complications were mild vitreous hemorrhage in 16 (40.0%) cases, gradually worsening cataract in 4 (11.8%), retinal detachment in 1 (2.5%), hyphema in 1 (2.5%), glaucoma in 1 (2.5%), and macular hole in 1 (2.5%). During the mean 11.1 (range: 1–55) months follow-up, 1 (3.4%) patient with choroidal melanoma developed liver metastasis. All patients were alive at the end of follow-up.

Conclusions

TRB using 23 G pars plana vitrectomy can be used to make the cytopathologic diagnosis of retinal/choroidal tumors whenever the clinical diagnosis is not certain or in cases with known diagnosis to obtain information on cell type/cytogenetics. In our series, the most common diagnosis after cytopathologic examination was choroidal melanoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Ahmet Kaan Gündüz & Ibadulla Mirzayev

  2. Departmant of Cytology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Koray Ceyhan

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Funda Seher Özalp Ateş

  4. Private Office, Farilya Business Center, 8/38, Ufuk Universitesi Cad, Çukurambar, 06510, Ankara, Turkey

    Ahmet Kaan Gündüz

Authors
  1. Ahmet Kaan Gündüz
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  2. Ibadulla Mirzayev
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Correspondence to Ahmet Kaan Gündüz.

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A. K. Gündüz, None; I. Mirzayev, None; K. Ceyhan, None; F. S. Özalp Ateş, None.

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Corresponding Author: Ahmet Kaan Gündüz

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Gündüz, A.K., Mirzayev, I., Ceyhan, K. et al. Transretinal biopsy via 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for retinal and choroidal tumors: cytopathological results, surgical complications, and patient outcomes. Jpn J Ophthalmol 65, 250–260 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-020-00795-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-020-00795-4

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