Acute leukemic infiltration of the vitreous diagnosed by pars plana aspiration.

A 30-year-old man with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, null cell, L2 type developed a unilateral dense cellular vitreous infiltrate while in apparent remission. Cytopathologic examination of material aspirated from the vitreous established the diagnosis of lymphoblastic infiltration. Prompt radiotherapy and chemotherapy rapidly reduced the vitreous infiltration and cleared cells from the cerebrospiral fluid. Intraocular involvement by the leukemic process was the initial sign of central nervous system involvement. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia should be added to the list of lymphoproliferative disorders capable of vitreous infiltration, and which can be identified by vitreous aspiration and cytopathologic examination.