Optic nerve involvement as a first manifestation of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after remission.

1 of 2 DESCRIPTION A 20-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in second remission for 4 years, presented with blurring of vision and binocular diplopia for 2 months duration. Examination revealed isolated left 6th cranial nerve palsy. Fundus showed swollen both optic disc and fan-shaped macular star suggestive of papilloedema. CT scan and MRI of brain revealed no space occupying lesion or hydrocephalus. However the presence of peripapillary yellowish infi ltrates raised suspicion of leukaemic infi ltrates ( fi gures 1 and 2 ). Lumbar puncture revealed numerous blast cells. Bone marrow biopsy also showed frank relapse with precursor B cells acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Leukaemic optic disc infi ltration is rare and may mimic papilloedema. 1 Presence of yellowish peripapillary infi ltrates 2 should alert attending physician to proceed with lumbar puncture to confi rm the diagnosis of a relapse. This patient underwent systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy.