Granulocytic sarcoma presenting as pneumonia in a child with t(8;21) acute myelogenous leukemia: diagnosis by fluorescent in situ hybridization

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2004 Jul;26(7):431-4. doi: 10.1097/00043426-200407000-00006.

Abstract

Granulocytic sarcoma is a soft tissue collection of leukemic cells. The authors describe a 4-year-old boy with M2 acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) who presented with fever, mild nonproductive cough, and hematemesis. Although he was initially diagnosed with nodular pneumonia, rapid resolution of a pulmonary infiltrate following induction chemotherapy was suggestive of a pulmonary granulocytic sarcoma. Interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of the lung biopsy specimen for the t(8;21)(q22;q22) translocation confirmed the retrospective diagnosis of a well-differentiated pulmonary granulocytic sarcoma. Pulmonary granulocytic sarcomas may be underrecognized in children with AML; this may delay anti-leukemic therapy and may lead to ineffective therapy if misdiagnosed as pneumonia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Pneumonia / pathology*
  • Sarcoma, Myeloid / pathology*
  • Translocation, Genetic