RETINAL INFILTRATION IN A CASE OF CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of chronic myeloid leukemia with retinal leukemic infiltration identified by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography.

METHODS

Case report.

RESULTS

A 64-year-old man presented with bilateral painless blurred vision and three weeks of fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and complete hearing loss. Dilated fundus examination of both eyes showed peripheral intraretinal hemorrhages with white centers, vascular tortuosity, and peripheral nonperfusion. No macular lesions were identified by slit-lamp examination, fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, or fluorescein angiography. Optical coherence tomography through the macula revealed multiple hyperreflective lesions throughout the inner retinal layers. Some of these lesions showed intrinsic flow by OCT angiography, but many lesions did not. The bone marrow biopsy confirmed chronic myeloid leukemia, and these intraretinal lesions were deemed to be leukemic infiltrates. The patient regained vision after systemic chemotherapy with resolution of the retinal infiltrates over time.

CONCLUSION

Primary leukemic retinal involvement can be challenging to diagnose, especially when the macula appears normal clinically. Optical coherence tomography and OCT angiography are useful imaging modalities for the detection of retinal leukemic infiltration. Completing a thorough review of systems and initiating an urgent, systemic work-up are warranted in cases of retinal infiltration.