Intraocular biopsy in uveitis

An intraocular biopsy is performed for diagnostic, prognostic and investigational purposes. Biopsies help to confirm or exclude malignancies and differentiate inflammatory from infectious processes. Histopathological analysis is the final verdict in unresponsive uveitis, atypical inflammation, metastases and masquerade syndromes. Advances and refinement of techniques in cytopathology, immunohistochemistry, microbiological and molecular biologic study offer much more than just diagnosis. They provide prognosis based on cell characteristics and are helpful in planning treatment and intervention. Many biopsy procedures have evolved to provide more safety and minimise complications thus improving the quality of specimens or samples available for analysis. The type of biopsy and technique adopted varies based on the clinical suspicion, size and location of lesions. In uveitis, a working diagnosis of intraocular inflammation is made on clinical examination and laboratory investigations and ancillary tests. Malignancy and uveitis is interlinked and masquerade syndromes are among the commonest indications for biopsy and analysis of specimen. The various types of intraocular biopsies include aqueous tap, fine needle aspiration biopsy, vitreous biopsy, iris and ciliary body, and retinochoroidal biopsy. They will be reviewed in this article with respect to current perspective.