title: Granulocytic sarcoma of gingiva: an unusual case with aleukemic presentation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is an uncommon extramedullary tumor composed of dense aggregates of immature myeloid precursor cells, which is usually associated with acute or chronic myeloid leukemia. The tumor may also be a predecessor to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It may be found in any location throughout the body; however, intraoral occurrence is extremely rare. This report describes a case of gingival granulocytic sarcoma that developed prior to AML in a 12-year-old female.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient, who had a 3-month history of gingival enlargement, was diagnosed as having granulocytic sarcoma based on clinical, radiological, and histological findings. Although the tumor regressed significantly after two induction chemotherapy courses, the patient subsequently died due to pneumococcal sepsis and pleurisy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case report affirms the importance of granulocytic sarcoma in the differential diagnosis of gingival enlargements, since the tumor may occur before bone marrow involvement by leukemic cells.
authors.affiliation: Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Antmen
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Haytac
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sasmaz
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ergin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanyeli
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; D023981:Sarcoma, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*