IP International Journal of Ocular Oncology and Oculoplasty 2020;6(1):79–80 Content available at: iponlinejournal.com IP International Journal of Ocular Oncology and Oculoplasty Journal homepage: www.innovativepublication.com Short Communication Uveitis m asquerade syndrome K Kalaivani 1, * 1 Dept. of Ophthalmology, Vinayaka Missions Medical College & Hospitals - Karaikal, Puducherry, India ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received 12-02-2020 Accepted 14-03-2020 Available online 24-04-2020 Keywords: Chronic uveitis Ocular inflammation Neoplasia Metastasis. ABSTRACT Uveitis Masquerade syndrome comprises a group of disorders simulating a chronic idiopathic uveitis with an underlying primary cause. This article reviews both benign and malignant conditions that mimic as uveitis. Though uveitis masquerade syndromes are generally uncommon constituting less than 3%of patients in uveitis referral clinics and well under 1% of patients with uveitis seen in general ophthalmology, their recognition is essential for proper management and in some instances may be life saving. © 2020 Published by Innovative Publication. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 1. Introduction Simulation of an ocular inflammatory condition by a neoplastic or non neoplastic disease is called as masquerade syndrome. The term “Masquerade Syndrome” was first used in Ophthalmology by Theodore in 1967 to describe a case of conjunctival carcinoma that manifested as chronic conjunctivitis. According to Martin’s dictionary word MASQUE (mask) generates the verb Masquerade meaning to appear in disguise and the noun masquerade pronounced as MAS-KER-AID meaning FALSE SHOW. Certain conditions of anterior and posterior segment can mimic uveitis and are therefore called as Masquerade syndromes. The common finding between the two is the “presence of cells and flare”. Uveitis masquerade accounts for 2-5% of the total uveitic patients in referral centres. 1,2 1.1. Neoplastic conditions presenting as uveitis masquerade This includes neoplasms such as Primary intra ocular (vitreo retinal) lymphoma, Primary choroidal lymphomas and * Corresponding author. E-mail address: drkvani@gmail.com (K. Kalaivani). lymphoidal hyperplasia, Uveal melanoma, Retinoblastoma, Ocular metastasis from the lung and breast, Leukemia. 1.2. Non malignant conditions presenting as uveitis masquerade Retained Intra ocular foreign body, Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, Myopic degeneration, Pigment dispersion syndrome, Retinitis pigmentosa and Ocular ischemic syndrome. paediatric conditions like Coat’s disease and PHPV can present as atypical uveitis. 1.3. Primary intra ocular (vitreo retinal) lymphoma This is a Non Hodgkin’s diffuse B cell lymphoma with or without CNS involvement presenting in the 6-7 th decade and this is the most common condition 1,3 presenting with ocular masquerade like retinitis, vasculitis, vitritis or an uveal mass. Primary choroidal lymphomas can present as multiple choroidal infiltrates. 1.4. Uveal melanoma Frequent neoplasm of the eye can present as uveitis with sentinel vessels, choroidal granuloma and posterior scleritis. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijooo.2020.016 2581-5024/© 2020 Innovative Publication, All rights reserved. 79