| Presentation preference | Poster presentation |
| Title | Infections Presenting as Tumor- Reverse Masquerade Syndromes |
| Accept poster if oral is not possible ? | Yes |
| Purpose | Ocular infections may rarely present as neoplasms. We report 5 cases of infections of the eye presenting as mass lesions mimicking tumors. |
| Methods | Retrospective analysis of 5 cases that presented as tumors, and later turned out to be infective in nature. This was confirmed by histopathology, microbiology and molecular biology studies. |
| Results | First case was a conjunctival tuberculoma suspected to be a conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma. Histopathology showed Acid Fast Bacilli on Ziehl Neelsen stain and PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) of the paraffin section showed Mycobacterium TB DNA. The second case presented as a scleral mass. Laboratory investigations were positive for VDRL and TPHA and responded to syphilis treatment. The third case presented as an amelanotic melanoma. Enucleated specimen on histopathology showed severe scleral inflammation suggestive of posterior scleritis and PCR was positive for Mycobacterium TB DNA. The fourth case presented as a ciliary body mass with choroidal granuloma. PCR of vitreous aspirate was positive for mycobacterium TB DNA. The fifth case presented with a vascularized iris root mass. Potassium hydroxide staining showed fungal filaments with Aspergillus fumigatus and PCR confirmed the presence of a panfungal genome. |
| Conclusion | Ocular infections can masquerade as tumors. Histopathology, microbiology and molecular biologic studies can confirm the diagnosis. |
| Conflict of interest | No |
1
| Last name | MATHEW |
| Initials of first name(s) | N R |
| Department | Uvea and Medical Retina |
| City | Chennai |
| Country | India |
2
| Last name | Biswas |
| Initials of first name(s) | J |
| Department | Uvea and Ocular Pathology |
| City | Chennai |
| Country | India |
3
| Last name | Janakiraman |
| Initials of first name(s) | P |
| Department | Uvea |
| City | Chennai |
| Country | India |