Non-invasive detection of multinucleated giant cells in the conjunctiva of patients with sarcoidosis by in-vivo confocal microscopy

Abstract

Aim: To explore the use of in-vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) as a potential non-invasive adjunctive tool for diagnosing sarcoidosis. Methods: Conjunctivae were imaged using confocal microscopy in 10 patients with sarcoidosis and 27 control subjects. We utilized the ASL-1000 Scanning Confocal Microscope (Advanced Scanning Ltd., New Orleans, LA) and the Confoscan 3 (Nidek Co. Ltd., Gamagori, Japan). Two masked observers reviewed the in-vivo confocal images of the conjunctivae in these subjects. One masked observer was experienced in reviewing confocal images. The most striking and obvious feature seen in granulomatous inflammation on confocal microscopy is the presence of multinucleated giant..