Analysis of Vitreous Samples by the Cellient® Automated Cell Block System: A Six-year Review of Specimens in a Uveitis Population

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2022 May 19;30(4):781-788. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2020.1830123. Epub 2020 Dec 3.

Abstract

Purpose: To further evaluate the value of a standardized method to analyze vitreous samples using the Cellient® automated cell block system in the diagnosis of unsolved uveitis.

Methods: Six hundred sixty-four pure vitreous samples obtained from patients with unsolved uveitis between March 2012 and May 2018 at University Hospitals Leuven, fixed in PreservCyt® and processed by the Cellient tissue processor, were included in the study.

Results: n 86.3% of the cases, sufficient material was found for diagnosis. A diagnosis of acute inflammation was made in 20.2% of the cases. In 34.0% of the cases, the diagnosis was chronic active inflammation; in 26.5%, low-grade inflammation; and in 5.6%, a malignant process.

Conclusion: Our standardized protocol can be used to diagnose endophthalmitis, lymphoma, granulomatous disease, inactive and storage disease, and metastatic infiltration. Cellient analysis of vitreous specimens had a diagnostic yield of 86.3% in unsolved uveitis cases.

Keywords: Cellient; Uveitis; automated system; cell block; vitreous biopsies.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Lymphoma*
  • Neoplasms*
  • Specimen Handling / methods
  • Uveitis* / diagnosis