Masquerade Syndromes and Uveitis; Clinics, Diagnosis and Treatment

The term of “masquerade syndrome” is used to describe all conditions where the presence of cells either in anterior chamber, vitreous or both but unrelated to any immune-mediated uveitis entities. Although masquerade syndromes can be caused by benign conditions such as intraocular foreign body, retinitis pigmentosa, ocular ischemic syndrome, etc., malignant masquerade syndromes are the important ones in this group of disorders. Hematologic malignancies such as lymphoma and leukemia, ocular metastasis of systemic tumors, paraneoplastic retinopathies and retinoblastoma are neoplastic masquerade syndromes mimicking ocular inflammatory diseases. A delay in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases can result in serious morbidity and mortality. Careful clinical examination and detailed ancillary investigation of all patients older than 50 years of age with chronic uveitis are crucial to prevent systemic dissemination, worsening of the causal disease and mortality.