Neuroendocrine tumours metastatic to the uvea: diagnosis by fine needle aspiration biopsy

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumours are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms whose diagnosis ultimately depends on the identification of specific cell markers (e.g., neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin, synaptophysin), hormones and neurotransmitters (e.g., gastrin, serotonin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone [ACTH]). FNAB with immunohistochemical stains for neuroendocrine markers can establish a pathologic diagnosis in cases of uveal metastasis from a neuroendocrine tumour. To our knowledge, our patient with Merkel cell carcinoma is the first pathologically proven case of uveal metastasis from this primary malignancy.

Diagnostic Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy for Iris Melanoma

“…Spindle cell carcinomatous metastases occur rarely. 24 Immunohistochemistry for epithelial markers including cytokeratins, neuroendocrine markers, and melanoma markers such as S100 and HMB45 can be helpful especially in cases of amelanotic epithelioid cell melanoma. 21,25 Limited cellularity or false negative biopsy can compromise the diagnostic potential of FNAB, and therefore, care must be taken to decrease the risk for a negative biopsy.…”

Choroidal metastasis from an occult primary diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration: A case report

“…8,[10][11][12] There are several reports in the literature wherein the fine-needle aspiration biopsy technique has been used in the diagnosis of choroidal metastasis. [13][14][15][16][17] The fine-needle aspiration biopsy procedure is further optimized by immunohistochemistry supplementation which has been documented to increase its specificity. 18 In cases of patients presenting with an ocular tumor, a basic panel of immunohistochemical stains including S100, AE1/AE3, TTF-1, Cytokeratin 7 and 20 as well as estrogen, progesterone receptors (especially in female patients), would be useful to identify the primary location of the tumor, in addition to clinical work up.…”

Radiation Therapy: Uveal Tumors

“…In a large series of uveal metastases the distribution of primary sites included breast (47% of cases), lung (21% of cases), and GI tract (4% of cases) [71]. Interestingly, lung is the most likely primary site of uveal metastatic carcinoma in patients with no known primary at presentation [71,[75][76][77][78]. In contrast, uveal metastases from breast carcinoma usually occur late in the natural history and are associated with disseminated disease in patients with a known breast primary [73,79].…”