Bilateral orbital involvement as a presenting sign in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Periorbital cellulitis as the initial presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

A girl in early childhood with no significant medical history developed left eye periorbital oedema and erythema. She was treated with intravenous antibiotics for suspected severe periorbital cellulitis. Despite treatment, the patient's cellulitis progressed into necrotising fasciitis, and she was transferred for ophthalmology review and imaging. A CT scan and eye swab culture-confirmed Staphylococcus aureus periorbital cellulitis. Incidentally, pathology revealed significant pancytopenia suspicious of leukaemia. The patient underwent bone marrow biopsy and was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). A multidisciplinary specialist assessment revealed no ocular evidence of leukaemia and no intraocular concerns. In medical literature, it is consistently found that cases of ALL initially manifesting as proptosis or eyelid oedema are invariably due to neoplastic infiltration. This case represents unique documentation where periorbital cellulitis is the initial presentation of B-cell ALL, underscoring the necessity to consider periorbital cellulitis as a possible differential diagnosis in ophthalmic manifestations of ALL.

Orbital recurrence of B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a child

Orbital mass is an exceedingly rare presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This report describes a 12-year-old boy with recurrent orbital pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and reviews the literature on the incidence, presentation, prognosis, and management of orbital tumors in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Early diagnosis and treatment of orbital acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a multidisciplinary approach is essential to minimize or prevent deterioration of vision and optimize clinical outcomes.