Corneal pseudomembrane from acute inflammatory response and fibrin formation to acute myeloid leukemic infiltrate.

PURPOSE: To describe an unusual ocular manifestation of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

DESIGN

Observational case report.

METHODS

A 59-year-old woman with a history of preleukemic myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and status post bone marrow transplant (BMT) complained of a sudden onset of poor vision associated with a corneal pseudomembrane. Ocular graft vs host disease was suspected, and the pseudomembrane was excised for histopathologic examination.

RESULTS

The pseudomembrane showed myeloblasts admixed with an acute inflammatory response suggestive of the development of AML, a complication of MDS. Bone marrow examination confirmed the diagnosis of relapsing AML.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute myeloid leukemia could present as a pseudomembrane; thus, examination of relevant ocular tissue is recommended.