The eye in acute leukaemia. 2. The management of solitary anterior chamber relapse.

Solitary relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was diagnosed in the anterior chamber of the eye in five children. In all these cases, pathological confirmation of the diagnosis was obtained and there was no other evidence of relapse including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and bone marrow examinations. Each child had one adverse prognostic sign at the initial presentation (high white blood cell count, age or sex). Relapse always occurred soon after completion of maintenance chemotherapy (between one and 4 months), supporting the hypothesis that the eye is a pharmacological sanctuary to cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs. Radiotherapy to the involved orbit was given with an immediate response in all patients. The details of this treatment are discussed. Four of the five patients later relapsed, one locally and three in bone marrow; the prognosis of solitary ocular relapse therefore appears grave.