A Case of Childhood Vitrectomy Performed for Dense Vitreous Hemorrhage Secondary to Leukemia Therapy and Tumor Lysis Syndrome

PURPOSE: To report a case of vitrectomy performed in a child with dense massive vitreous hemorrhage due to secondary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and tumor lysis syndrome. CASE: A 4-year-old boy with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma was successfully treated with chemotherapy in 2011. However, in May 2012, he developed secondary AML. Although he was treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation, tumor lysis syndrome occurred with renal and heart failure complications. After an ultrasound examination by pediatricians found bilateral subretinal protrusions, he was referred to our clinic. Fundus examinations confirmed that the protrusions were bilateral subretinal or choroidal hemorrhages. A few weeks later, dense vitreous hemorrhages occurred bilaterally, and he completely lost vision in both eyes. Electroretinograms were extinguished in both eyes. After improvement of his general condition, we performed a 25-gauge vitrectomy combined with lens extraction in his left eye in December 2012. After removal of the vitreous hemorrhage, we found the subretinal hemorrhage had already been absorbed, leaving a mottled fundus color. However, the optic disc was not pale. Nine months after the surgery, his best-corrected visual acuity finally improved to 0.1. CONCLUSION: We successfully treated a case of severe vitreous hemorrhage secondary to leukemia therapy and tumor lysis syndrome using 25-gauge vitrectomy. This procedure may be safe and effective to perform, even in children with complications.