Radiological and clinical patterns of myeloid sarcoma

Abstract

Background. Myeloid sarcoma (MS), also known as granulocytic sarcoma or chloroma, is a solid tumor of extramedullary localization composed of malignant primitive myeloid cells.

The purpose of the study was to identify clinical and imaging features in a large patient sample.

Patients and methods. Overall, 71 cases (34 females, 47.9%, with a median age of 56 ± 16 years) of histopathologically confirmed myeloid sarcoma were included into this study. The underlying hematological disease, occurrence, localizations and clinical symptoms as well as imaging features on CT and MRI were investigated.

Results. In 4 cases (5.63%) the manifestation of GS preceded the systemic hematological disease by a mean value of 3.8 ± 2.1 months. In 13 cases first presentation of GS occurred simultaneously with the initial diagnosis of leukemia, and 51 patients presented GS after the initial diagnosis of the underlying malignancy with a mean latency of 39.8 ± 44.9 SD months. The visceral soft tissue was affected in 26 cases, followed by the cutis/subcutis was affected in 21 cases. Further localizations were bones (n=13), central nervous system (n=9), lymph nodes (n=4) and visceral organs (n=9).

Conclusions. MS is a rare complication of several hematological malignancies, predominantly of AML, which can affect any part of the body. In most cases it occurs after the diagnosis of the underlying malignancy, and affects frequently the cutis and subcutis.