The clinicopathologic significance of vitreous fluid cytology examinations in a series of 38 patients.

The authors systematically analyze a series of 38 patients having a total of 40 vitreous fluid cytology determinations. Nine of the 38 patients (23.7%) have cytologic results diagnostic for, or at least highly suggestive of, a specific disease process. These include two cases of bacterial endophthalmitis; two cases of fungal endophthalmitis; one case of vitreal amyloidosis; and four cases called positive for intraocular lymphoma. There are no vitreous fluid cytology determinations falsely positive or falsely negative for malignancy in this series. Intraocular lymphoma and the increasingly important role of vitreous fluid cytology examination in its diagnosis are discussed. The authors conclude that a strong commitment to quality control concepts, including detailed clinical follow-up, is essential in order to develop clinician trust and help achieve optimal patient care benefit from this valuable diagnostic modality.