Granulocytic sarcoma of the spine in nonleukemic patients: report of three cases.
OBJECTIVE
Granulocytic sarcomas involving the spine in patients without myelogenous leukemia are rare. We report three cases and review the literature.


METHODS
Three patients presented with spinal epidural tumors, which caused spinal cord compression in one and cauda equina compression in two.


METHODS
All patients underwent surgery, and biopsies revealed histological features of granulocytic sarcomas. Bone marrow aspirates and biopsies showed no evidence of acute leukemia at initial presentation, for all three patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Granulocytic sarcomas in nonleukemic patients are rare, and when they affect the spine they are frequently misdiagnosed. Appropriate therapy for these tumors requires early identification.
Deme
S
S
Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Deodhare
S S
SS
Tucker
W S
WS
Bilbao
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015174:Epidural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed