Ocular biopsy through external needle drainage for isolated bilateral ocular relapse of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
BACKGROUND
Isolated ocular relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is not commonly seen. Subretinal infiltration and exudative retinal detachment may not provide a positive vitreous biopsy for histopathologic confirmation.


METHODS
We present a case of a 5-year-old male patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission, who presented with bilateral subretinal leukemic infiltrates and exudative retinal detachment. An ocular biopsy through external needle drainage histopathologically confirmed an ocular relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.


RESULTS
Isolated ophthalmic relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia can present as bilateral exudative retinal detachment with subretinal infiltration.


CONCLUSIONS
External needle drainage of the subretinal fluid and subretinal infiltration can increase the diagnostic yield for histopathologic confirmation of the relapse.
From the K B Haji Bachooali Charitable Eye Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; and †Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Anand
A
Subramanyam
Sumita
S
Phatak
Sweety
S
Chandalia
S V
SV
Kane
S D
SD
Banavali