title: Myeloid sarcoma of the head and neck region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myeloid sarcoma of the head and neck region can pose diagnostic challenges because of the low frequency of myeloid sarcoma and the potential for tumors of almost any lineage to occur in the head and neck.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of myeloid sarcoma in the head and neck region and to review the differential diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for cases of myeloid sarcoma involving the head and neck region for a 24-year period at our institution. The medical records and pathology slides were reviewed. Additional immunohistochemical stains were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 17 patients, age 17 to 85 years. Most tumors involved the oral cavity. Myeloid sarcoma was the initial diagnosis in 9 patients (53%); the remaining 8 patients (47%) had a history of bone marrow disease. Immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies specific for lysozyme, CD43, and CD68 were highly sensitive for diagnosis but were not specific. By contrast, assessment for myeloperoxidase in this study was less sensitive but more specific. We also used antibodies specific for CD11c and CD33 in a subset of cases, and these reagents seem helpful as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical presentation of myeloid sarcoma involving the head and neck, particularly the mouth, is often nonspecific, and a high degree of suspicion for the possibility of myeloid sarcoma is needed. Immunohistochemistry is very helpful for establishing the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: L Jeffrey
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D039521:CD11c Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051917:Leukosialin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D023981:Sarcoma, Myeloid / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D039521:CD11c Antigen; D051917:Leukosialin; D009113:Muramidase; D009195:Peroxidase; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3; C571163:CD33 protein, human; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C465014:SPN protein, human