FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY AND IMMUNOCYTOCHEMISTRY OF OCULAR ADNEXAL LYMPHOID TUMORS

Fine-needle aspiration material was collected for cytomorphologic and immunocytochemical evaluation in 10 cases of ocular adnexal (orbital, conjunctival and eyelid) tumors. Using cytologic criteria, 9 were malignant, of which 2 were classified as high-grade (immunoblastic and centroblastic) and 7 as low-grade lymphomas (2 immunocytomas, 3 mixed and 2 mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas). Immunological studies performed on cytocentrifuge preparations showed light-chain restriction, confirming the cytologic diagnosis of malignant lymphoma in all 9 cases. The remaining case was interpreted as a benign reactive process on cytologic results alone, and this was confirmed by a polyclonal immunoglobulin expression. The results show that cytology combined with marker studies of cells procured by fine-needle aspiration represents a reliable diagnostic technique in the assessment of patients presenting with ocular adnexal lymphoid masses.