Isolated retro-orbital granulocytic sarcoma relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case report

Background: Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is rare as an isolated presentation of relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), particularly in adult patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). We report here the case of a 37-year-old man who developed a GS of the retro-orbital as an isolated manifestation of AML relapse 27 months after allo-HSCT. Case report: A 37-year-old man was diagnosed with AML and subsequently received allo-HSCT after clinical chemical remission. The patient suddenly presented with painless exophthalmos of the left eye twenty-seven months after allo-HSCT. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed left retro-orbital masses. Histopathology revealed diffused infiltration of leukemic blasts. Further systemic investigation showed no leukemic involvement of his other organs. Isolated retro-orbital relapse of AML was diagnosed. Despite treatment using retro-orbital irradiation, the patient died 6 months after presentation. Conclusion: Our patient had a poor survival prognosis, even with timely diagnosis and proper treatment. Although the ophthalmologist has a secondary role in the diagnosis and treatment of leukemia, a prompt recognition of the ocular manifestations and their significance as a sign of possible extramedullary lesion is crucial.