Retinopathy as a Presenting Feature of Life-threatening Blood Cancer in a Young Male
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
Ocular involvement occurs in up to 90% of leukemia cases, but retinopathy as the initial manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is uncommon and may indicate aggressive disease. Early recognition by ophthalmologists is crucial. A 36-year-old male presented with a sudden bilateral decrease in vision. Visual acuity was 0.4 in both eyes, and anterior segment findings were unremarkable. Dilated fundus examination revealed bilateral multiple Roth spots and blot hemorrhages, and cotton-wool spots throughout the posterior pole. The striking bilateral hemorrhagic retinopathy in the absence of systemic illness prompted urgent hematological evaluation. Complete blood count demonstrated severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, and marked leukocytosis with circulating blasts. Peripheral smear confirmed numerous myeloblasts. Bone marrow aspiration and immunophenotyping established a diagnosis of AML. The patient was started on induction chemotherapy, with ophthalmic follow-up planned to monitor the resolution of retinal hemorrhages. This case highlights that unexplained bilateral retinal hemorrhages with Roth spots and cotton-wool spots in a young adult should raise suspicion for underlying hematologic malignancy. Prompt ophthalmic recognition can facilitate early diagnosis and improve outcomes in AML.
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BibTeX
@article{magdum2026retinopathy,
title = {{Retinopathy as a Presenting Feature of Life-threatening Blood Cancer in a Young Male}},
author = {Renu Magdum and Siddhartha Gollamudi and Kalibo Jakhalu and Himani Yadav},
journal = {Annals of African Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.4103/aam.aam_316_26},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_316_26},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Retinopathy as a Presenting Feature of Life-threatening Blood Cancer in a Young Male
AU - Renu Magdum
AU - Siddhartha Gollamudi
AU - Kalibo Jakhalu
AU - Himani Yadav
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/14
JO - Annals of African Medicine
DO - 10.4103/aam.aam_316_26
UR - https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_316_26
AB - Ocular involvement occurs in up to 90% of leukemia cases, but retinopathy as the initial manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is uncommon and may indicate aggressive disease. Early recognition by ophthalmologists is crucial. A 36-year-old male presented with a sudden bilateral decrease in vision. Visual acuity was 0.4 in both eyes, and anterior segment findings were unremarkable. Dilated fundus examination revealed bilateral multiple Roth spots and blot hemorrhages, and cotton-wool spots throughout the posterior pole. The striking bilateral hemorrhagic retinopathy in the absence of systemic illness prompted urgent hematological evaluation. Complete blood count demonstrated severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, and marked leukocytosis with circulating blasts. Peripheral smear confirmed numerous myeloblasts. Bone marrow aspiration and immunophenotyping established a diagnosis of AML. The patient was started on induction chemotherapy, with ophthalmic follow-up planned to monitor the resolution of retinal hemorrhages. This case highlights that unexplained bilateral retinal hemorrhages with Roth spots and cotton-wool spots in a young adult should raise suspicion for underlying hematologic malignancy. Prompt ophthalmic recognition can facilitate early diagnosis and improve outcomes in AML.
SN - 1596-3519
SN - 0975-5764
ER -