Isolated cavernous sinus extramedullary relapse of chronic myelogenous leukemia following allogeneic stem cell transplant

Ann Hematol. 2002 Feb;81(2):108-10. doi: 10.1007/s00277-001-0411-x. Epub 2002 Jan 18.

Abstract

Isolated extramedullary relapse of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) after allogeneic stem cell transplant is rare. A case is reported of a patient who developed a granulocytic sarcoma of the cavernous sinus 7 months after allogeneic transplant for CML. He presented with neurologic deficits, and a mass lesion was found on imaging. No evidence of hematologic relapse was identified by bone marrow histology or cytogenetics. A premortem diagnosis was not possible, and the patient died 2 months later of an intracerebral hemorrhage after receiving various therapies directed against a presumed infectious etiology. Granulocytic sarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mass lesions presenting after allogeneic transplant for CML, even if there is no evidence of medullary disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cavernous Sinus / pathology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* / pathology
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* / therapy
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary* / etiology
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary* / pathology
  • Sarcoma, Myeloid* / etiology
  • Sarcoma, Myeloid* / pathology
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Vascular Neoplasms* / etiology
  • Vascular Neoplasms* / pathology