ACUTE VISION LOSS AS THE ONLY SIGN OF LEUKEMIA RELAPSE.

PURPOSE: To report a case of unilateral exudative retinal detachment as the sole presentation of relapsing B-type lymphoblastic leukemia in a 35-year-old man after 3 years of remission. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 35-year-old man in complete remission of high-risk type B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL-B) presented with acute vision loss in his left eye. Exudative retinal detachment was diagnosed at initial evaluation. Hematological and ocular studies were performed. Although there was no evidence of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or bone marrow disease relapse, transvitreal retinochoroidal cytology identified the infiltration of lymphoblastic leukemic B cells with t(12:21) translocation as the only sign of relapsing ALL-B. CONCLUSION: At first sign of vision loss or ocular symptoms in a patient with a history of lymphoblastic leukemia, and regardless of the hematological findings, exhaustive ophthalmologic exploration and ocular biopsy should be performed without delay-this being crucial for clinical decision making because a prompt diagnosis improves the chances of survival.

Correlation Between Ischemic Retinal Accidents and Radial Peripapillary Capillaries in the Optic Nerve Using Optical Coherence Tomographic Angiography: Observations in 6 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Perfusion of the optic nerve has been widely studied using fluorescein angiography (FAG), which is currently regarded as the criterion standard. However, FAG has adverse effects associated with intravenous contrast administration and is limited in its capacity to characterize and stratify the different vascular layers of the optic nerve and retina. The use of new imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomographic angiography (Angio-OCT), is therefore important. AIM: A qualitative description is made of the vascular layers of the optic nerve and of how vascular events affect radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC). Two patients with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), 1 with arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION), and 3 healthy subjects were studied. RESULTS: The Angio-OCT imaging afforded better visualization of the depth of the RPC and rest of the vascular layers of the retina compared with FAG. Optic nerve surface perfusion was affected in AAION and proved normal in CRAO. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that perfusion of the papilla and RPC mainly arises from the papillary plexus that depends on the posterior ciliary artery.