Serous retinal detachment as a presenting feature of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report a case of diffuse unilateral retinal detachment as an initial symptom of chronic myelogenous leukemia in a 35-year-old woman.

Methods: This is a case report of a 35-year-old white woman who presented with painless acute visual loss in her left eye.

Results: A 35-year-old white woman presented with acute visual loss in her left eye. She had no systemic or ophthalmological medical history. Slit-lamp examination was normal in both eyes. Fundus examination of the left eye showed not only multiple retinal hemorrhages but also a diffuse serous retinal detachment affecting the nasal aspect of the retina and the posterior pole. The leukocyte count was 124,000/mm (99% blasts), and the Philadelphia chromosome was positive, an abnormality that is associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Conclusion: Serous retinal detachment is an uncommon feature among leukemias. Chronic myelogenous leukemia may remain asymptomatic until a blastic phase occurs. Prompt recognition of the disease leads to early systemic chemotherapy and may help to restore visual function.