Parotid Gland Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Ocular Sarcoidosis

Background

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder that involves primarily lungs, lymph nodes, spleen, skin, nervous system, bones and joints. Parotid gland is involved in 5 to 8 % of patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis, while ocular involvement is seen in 15 to 25 % of patients with sarcoidosis[1]. Ophthalmic features include dacryoadenitis, conjunctival lesions, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, granulomatous anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, multifocal choroiditis, retinal periphlebitis, cystoid macular edema, and optic neuritis [2]. Definitive diagnosis lies upon histopathological analysis, which is primarily performed on biopsy samples obtained through mediastinoscopy, transbronchial lung biopsy, minor salivary gland biopsy or conjunctival biopsy. The sensitivity of different biopsy sites is highly variable, ranging from 50 % for conjunctival biopsy [3] to more than 90 % for transbronchial lung biopsy [4]. We describe one case in which a diagnosis of presumed ocular sarcoidosis was confirmed through parotid gland fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

References

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