Myeloid Sarcomas Causing Unilateral Cranial Nerve Palsies in a Patient with Relapsed Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia

Myeloid sarcomas (MS) are a rare manifestation of myeloid malignancies and can often be misdiagnosed, leading to a delay in treatment. The objective of this clinical case is to highlight the challenges of the clinical presentation and to emphasize the importance of this manifestation ensuring timely...

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Main Authors: A. Mendez-Hernandez, X. A. Andrade, S. Upadhyay, L. M. Parra-Rodriguez, E. Caldeira, L. H. Paz, H. Mann, M. Zia, L. Sumoza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Hematology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/3749565
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author A. Mendez-Hernandez
X. A. Andrade
S. Upadhyay
L. M. Parra-Rodriguez
E. Caldeira
L. H. Paz
H. Mann
M. Zia
L. Sumoza
author_facet A. Mendez-Hernandez
X. A. Andrade
S. Upadhyay
L. M. Parra-Rodriguez
E. Caldeira
L. H. Paz
H. Mann
M. Zia
L. Sumoza
author_sort A. Mendez-Hernandez
collection DOAJ
description Myeloid sarcomas (MS) are a rare manifestation of myeloid malignancies and can often be misdiagnosed, leading to a delay in treatment. The objective of this clinical case is to highlight the challenges of the clinical presentation and to emphasize the importance of this manifestation ensuring timely diagnosis and therapy. Here, we present a 43-year-old man who was diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) after being evaluated for unintentional weight loss, subcutaneous nodules, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. The patient underwent chemotherapy with complete remission and presented 4 months later with dysphagia and cranial nerve palsies. Appropriate imaging and biopsy led to a diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma, and a decision was made to begin reinduction chemotherapy for AML achieving a second complete remission although his neurological deficits did not improve. Our case illustrates the protean presentation of myeloid sarcomas; clinicians should have a high suspicion for MS and remain vigilant when unexplained signs and symptoms arise in the background of a myeloid malignancy although challenges still remain when presentation is de novo. Advancements in understanding the pathophysiology of MS have been performed but remain not completely understood. High clinical suspicion, appropriate imaging, biopsy techniques, and expertise are paramount for timely diagnosis and treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-bd7eab9bee554b5ab9d63d519a62584d2025-08-20T03:23:31ZengWileyCase Reports in Hematology2090-65602090-65792020-01-01202010.1155/2020/37495653749565Myeloid Sarcomas Causing Unilateral Cranial Nerve Palsies in a Patient with Relapsed Acute Myeloblastic LeukemiaA. Mendez-Hernandez0X. A. Andrade1S. Upadhyay2L. M. Parra-Rodriguez3E. Caldeira4L. H. Paz5H. Mann6M. Zia7L. Sumoza8Department of Medicine, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, USADepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USADepartment of Medicine, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, USADepartment of Medicine, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, USADepartment of Medicine, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USADepartment of Cardiology, North Shore University Hospital, Evanston, IL, USADepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USADepartment of Hematology and Oncology, John H., Stroger Jr., Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, USADepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Alton Memorial Hospital, Alton, IL, USAMyeloid sarcomas (MS) are a rare manifestation of myeloid malignancies and can often be misdiagnosed, leading to a delay in treatment. The objective of this clinical case is to highlight the challenges of the clinical presentation and to emphasize the importance of this manifestation ensuring timely diagnosis and therapy. Here, we present a 43-year-old man who was diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) after being evaluated for unintentional weight loss, subcutaneous nodules, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. The patient underwent chemotherapy with complete remission and presented 4 months later with dysphagia and cranial nerve palsies. Appropriate imaging and biopsy led to a diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma, and a decision was made to begin reinduction chemotherapy for AML achieving a second complete remission although his neurological deficits did not improve. Our case illustrates the protean presentation of myeloid sarcomas; clinicians should have a high suspicion for MS and remain vigilant when unexplained signs and symptoms arise in the background of a myeloid malignancy although challenges still remain when presentation is de novo. Advancements in understanding the pathophysiology of MS have been performed but remain not completely understood. High clinical suspicion, appropriate imaging, biopsy techniques, and expertise are paramount for timely diagnosis and treatment.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/3749565
spellingShingle A. Mendez-Hernandez
X. A. Andrade
S. Upadhyay
L. M. Parra-Rodriguez
E. Caldeira
L. H. Paz
H. Mann
M. Zia
L. Sumoza
Myeloid Sarcomas Causing Unilateral Cranial Nerve Palsies in a Patient with Relapsed Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia
Case Reports in Hematology
title Myeloid Sarcomas Causing Unilateral Cranial Nerve Palsies in a Patient with Relapsed Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia
title_full Myeloid Sarcomas Causing Unilateral Cranial Nerve Palsies in a Patient with Relapsed Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia
title_fullStr Myeloid Sarcomas Causing Unilateral Cranial Nerve Palsies in a Patient with Relapsed Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia
title_full_unstemmed Myeloid Sarcomas Causing Unilateral Cranial Nerve Palsies in a Patient with Relapsed Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia
title_short Myeloid Sarcomas Causing Unilateral Cranial Nerve Palsies in a Patient with Relapsed Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia
title_sort myeloid sarcomas causing unilateral cranial nerve palsies in a patient with relapsed acute myeloblastic leukemia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/3749565
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