J Korean Med Sci.  1992 Sep;7(3):291-296. 10.3346/jkms.1992.7.3.291.

Spinal epidural granulocytic sarcoma preceding acute myelogenous leukemia

• Kook H
• Hwang TJ
• Choe K
• Yang DW
• Nam JH
• Park CS

• KMID: 1421928
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.1992.7.3.291

Abstract

A rare case of spinal epidural granulocytic sarcoma (GS) preceding acute myelogenous leukemia is described. A 10-year-old boy presented with lower leg weakness. The initial diagnosis was a histiocytic lymphoma, and he was treated accordingly. No evidence of bone marrow involvement was found at that time. The correct diagnosis of epidural GS was made possible in retrospect by using immunoperoxidase staining for lysozyme fourteen months later when the patient showed the full-blown features of leukemia. This rare tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an epidural mass with cord compression in patients with or even without acute leukemia, because early diagnosis followed by appropriate combined chemotherapy and radiation may obviate surgical intervention and eventually prevent leukemic transformation.

Keyword

Granulocytic sarcoma; Spinal epidural; Aleukemic patient

MeSH Terms

Child
Epidural Neoplasms/*complications/pathology
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Leukemia, Myeloid/*complications/pathology
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/*complications/pathology
Male
Neoplasms, Second Primary