The role of optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis of the leukemic infiltration of the optic nerve and retina

Abstract

Even though there are multiple diseases of the optic nerve and the retina in patients with hemoblastosis, their ophthalmoscopic picture is similar in many respects. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the differential diagnosis of various manifestations of hemoblastosis in the fundus. Material and methods. From Jan. 2015 to Jan. 2019, 9 patients (5 men and 4 women aged 29 to 72) with hemoblastosis and lesions of the optic nerve and retina were examined. Results. 5 patients were diagnosed with leukemic infiltration of the optic nerve. The remaining 4 patients had, congestive optic discs (1), occlusion of the central retinal vein (1), anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (1), and bilateral occlusion of the central retinal artery with leukemic infiltration of eye membranes (1). The article describes the ophthalmoscopic pictures and OCT data for the specific diseases. Unlike other diseases of the optic nerve and retina, leukemic infiltration is characterized by a pronounced dense edema in the inner layers of the retina with shielding of the underlying outer layers of the retina. Conclusion. OCT is an important additional method for differential diagnosis of leukemic infiltration and other diseases of the optic nerve and retina in patients with hemoblastosis.

Keywords

• hemoblastosis
• leukemia
• leukemic infiltration of the optic nerve and retina
• optical coherence tomography