Orbital Involvement in Acute Adult Leukemias: Case Series and Review of Literature

Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Jul-Aug;39(4):e107-e111. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000002369. Epub 2023 Apr 21.

Abstract

Orbital involvement in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is well-described in children but is uncommon in adults. This series reports 2 adult patients with orbital leukemic involvement and summarizes the existing literature. A 37-year-old male with recently diagnosed AML underwent induction therapy and subsequently developed a tan-pink colored sub-conjunctival lesion in the left eye. Incisional biopsy confirmed AML. A 35-year-old male with history of ALL presented with left-sided orbital mass. Fine needle aspiration biopsy confirmed ALL. Literature review of adult-onset orbital leukemia yielded 29 cases of AML and 3 cases of ALL. Orbital involvement of acute adult-onset leukemia tends to be unilateral, presents in the extraconal space and can occur at any point during systemic leukemic disease. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment, often in combination with radiation and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Child
  • Eye
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / diagnosis
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / drug therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / pathology