Abstract

MEDINA MEDINA, Elcy et al. Radiological findings of granulocytic sarcoma in the face and skull of children and young persons: report of five cases and literature review. Iatreia [online]. 2010, vol.23, n.3, pp.286-293. ISSN 0121-0793.

Introduction: Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is a rare malignant neoplasia, with an incidence rate of 2.9% to 3.1% in patients with myeloid leukemia or myeloproliferative diseases. Usually it affects males, of African, Asian and South American populations. Objetive: To describe the radiological characteristics of GS in the face and skull of children and young people. Patients and methods: We report five patients with GS in the face and skull. Computerized tomography (CT) was carried out in four and orbital and brain magnetic resonance (MRI) in three. Out of the five, four had soft tissue masses in the orbit, two had bone infiltration, and in one there was a central nervous system lesion. In four patients acute myeloid leukemia was demonstrated. Conclusion: GS may affect the orbit, the face and the skull of children and young adults; it manifests with exophthalmia and orbital edema. It must be considered as a diagnostic possibility in the context of myeloid leukemia and myelodysplasias. Otherwise, differential diagnosis should be made with complications of sinusitis, orbital rhabdomyosarcoma, orbital lymphoma and other tumors. Imaging studies may help in the diagnosis by revealing soft tissue masses and areas of bone infiltration. In some cases GS may resemble abscesses. Diagnosis must be confirmed by histopathology.

Keywords : Chloroma; Craneofacial granulocytic sarcoma; Myeloid leukemia; Myeloid neoplasia; Myeloproliferative diseases.

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