Fine needle aspiration cytology of metastatic ocular medulloepithelioma

Medulloepithelioma is a rare embryonal tumour that arises from the central nervous system, uveal tract and optic nerve. Intraocular medulloepithelioma usually occurs in the first decade of life, with only occasional reports in adults. It spreads by local extension, but rarely metastasizes. Previous reports on the cytology of medulloepithelioma describe it as a round blue cell tumour indistinguishable from other malignant round cell tumours (MRCT) including retinoblastoma. Hence, diagnosis has mostly been made on histopathological examination of the surgically resected specimen. We present here the cytological findings of this tumour, in a case diagnosed as a metastasis on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).