title: Myeloid sarcoma of the vulva as the presenting symptom in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myeloid sarcoma is a tumor of myeloblasts or immature myeloid cells occurring in an extramedullary site. Myeloid sarcoma of female genital tract is very rare with no cases of vulvar location reported in English-language literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 73-year-old female presented with an indurated mass encompassing her left labia majora and vulva. The mass was diagnosed as vulvar myeloid sarcoma. The patient's peripheral blood smear revealed Auer rods and other findings consistent with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (M-2 type, FAB classification).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge this case is the first report in the English-language literature of the myeloid sarcoma of the vulva. Correct diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma in an otherwise asymptomatic patient is crucial for early administration of antileukemic chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. cersahi@hotmail.com <cersahi@hotmail.com>
authors.forename: Cağatay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erşahin
authors.forename: Gulbeyaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Omeroglu
authors.forename: Ronald K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Potkul
authors.forename: Alia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salhadar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D023981:Sarcoma, Myeloid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology