Abstract
A 42-year-old woman, without a specific medical history presented at the Department of Emergency Ophthalmology accusing marked decrease of vision for the left eye (VA 1/ 100). The eye examination revealed an optic neuropathy with multiple retinal hemorrhages at the level of both eyes, but more acutely on the left eye. The brain computer tomography (CT) excluded the suspicion of increasing intracranial pressure. The common blood tests such as complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and inflammatory markers raised a high suspicion of a malignant haematological disease.
Highlights
Two of the most common pathologies investigated in ophthalmology are optic disc oedema and retinal vascular diseases
She presented at the Department of Emergency Ophthalmology, claiming a drop of vision in the left eye (LE), which gradually installed during the last 48 hours before she presented at the Emergency Department
The ophthalmic evaluation at the time of admission revealed a well-contoured and normally colored optic disc, retinal hemorrhage radiating from the inferotemporal optic disc margin with a flame shaped aspect, dot-spot retinal hemorrhages and low foveolar reflex, at the right eye (RE)
Summary
Two of the most common pathologies investigated in ophthalmology are optic disc oedema and retinal vascular diseases. In this context, the imagistic evaluation often transcends the diagnosis, the clinician having high-performance technology in his hands, such as CT, MRI, OCT, but there are situations in which common assays such as CBC and the inflammatory markers can be the only medical investigation that clearly suggests the existence of a life-threatening haematological disorder. The results of blood test showed a severe pancytopenia with 1.43 X 103/ μl leukocytes, 24 X 103/ μl thrombocytes and severe low levels of Hb 5 g/ dl, inflammatory markers were high, erythrocyte sedimentation rate ESR 60 mm/ h, CPR 17.63 mg/ l, lower fibrinogen levels 94.77 mg/ dl. After the patient died, the result of Bone Marrow Biopsy revealed a hypercellularity with intertrabecular infiltration of blastic cells with cytoplasmic granulations and Auer rods, about 80-90% of the total cells
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
