Buccal granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma)

Oral myeloid sarcoma as an uncommon manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia: A case series and review of the literature

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW

Oral myeloid sarcoma (MS) is an extramedullary tumor that can occur in the setting of acute myeloid leukemia, either as the first sign of an underlying disease or later in the course of disease. The authors' aim was to present the clinical features of oral MS and review the literature.

CASE DESCRIPTION

Case 1 was an 82-year-old woman with an asymptomatic erythematous swelling on the maxillary gingiva and no history of hematologic malignancy. Case 2, a 65-year-old man, and case 3, a 58-year-old woman, each had a history of acute myeloid leukemia and a painful ulcer on the palatal mucosa and an asymptomatic ulcer on the lower lip mucosa, respectively. Case 1 was treated with focal radiation then chemotherapy and achieved complete remission initially, but died of relapse 2 years after diagnosis. Case 2 received radiotherapy and immunotherapy and had a complete response. Case 3 received chemotherapy and achieved remission initially, but relapsed and is undergoing investigational targeted therapies.

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Oral MS can manifest as gingival or mucosal swelling or ulceration and can indicate onset or relapse of associated hematologic malignancies, which often have a poor prognosis. Because patients with oral findings are likely to seek treatment from their dentists first, oral clinicians should maintain a broad differential diagnosis list when evaluating oral lesions, especially if treatment prescribed for a more common diagnosis fails to resolve the lesion.

Primary oral myeloid sarcoma: Report of a case

Myeloid sarcoma is defined as a tumor mass of immature myeloid cells that may be observed in a variety of locations including bone, skin, lymph nodes and soft tissues. However, oral involvement of myeloid sarcoma is extremely rare. These tumors are considered as specific lesions of acute myeloid leukemia. We present a case of a myeloid sarcoma of the upper vestibular gingiva in a 29-year-old woman who has no hematologic disease history. Multiple metastases were found in floor of the nasal cavity, left breast, and left lacrimal gland 12 months after primary diagnosis.

Lateral pharyngeal wall myeloid sarcoma as a relapse of acute biphenotypic leukemia: a case report and review of the literature

Introduction

Myeloid sarcoma is a rare extramedullary malignant tumor composed of immature myeloid cells. The tumor can affect any part of the body. Involvement of the oral cavity and nasopharynx has been reported in 50 cases. We report a case describing myeloid sarcoma affecting the lateral pharyngeal wall.

Case presentation

A 31-year-old Arabian man who had acute biphenotypic leukemia treated with chemoradiation and allogeneic stem cell transplant was referred to our department with sore throat and a mass lesion in his lateral pharyngeal wall after failed antibiotic therapy. Biopsy of his lesion revealed myeloid sarcoma. He was referred to the Department of Hematology-Oncology for further evaluation that showed no other lesions.

The patient was diagnosed with isolated extramedullary myeloid sarcoma of his lateral pharyngeal wall as a relapse of acute biphenotypic leukemia and managed with chemoradiation.

Conclusions

Myeloid sarcoma of the pharynx is a rarely encountered malignancy in the practice of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. It can develop de novo, but may also represent relapse of leukemia. Thus, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any pharyngeal lesions in patients with leukemia.