Special histochemical stains in ocular pathology: agnogenic myeloid metaplasia with leukemic transformation

With the use of special immune and enzymatic histochemical techniques, ocular pathologists are able to detect and localize certain cytoplasmic antigens and proteins in tissue section. An immunoperoxidase stain and special enzyme histochemical technique were used to confirm leukemic ocular involvement in a patient who suffered from agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM). Although the transformation of AMM to acute leukemia can be heralded by ocular symptoms, diffuse leukemic infiltration of the choroid may be difficult to detect clinically. Special stains to detect immature myeloid cells may be of particular importance in establishing the diagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma of the orbit in children and certain forms of leukemia having a predilection for cutaneous and conjunctival involvement in adults.