Bilateral infiltrative disease of the extraocular muscles: a rare clinical presentation of early stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

Orbital involvement in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is highly unusual and most commonly involves hemorrhage or soft tissue infiltration in advanced disease. We report a case of rapid onset bilateral orbital muscle infiltration as the presenting feature of early stage CLL. In addition, we demonstrate clinico-pathological correlation with an identical chronic B-cell lymphocytic infiltrate in both orbit and bone marrow, with good response of the orbital disease to local radiotherapy.