Radiologic manifestations of granulocytic sarcoma in adult leukemia

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to summarize the clinical and radiologic presentations including pertinent imaging features of granulocytic sarcoma, a rare extramedullary tumor of acute myeloid leukemia, in 11 adult patients.

Conclusion: In patients in our study, the clinical and radiologic manifestations of granulocytic sarcoma were variable and occurred most commonly as disease progression in acute myeloid leukemia (73% of the patients). Granulocytic sarcoma lesions were multiple soft-tissue masses with variable enhancement, recurring in nearly 50% of patients at different sites and points of time during the course of the disease. Lesions in the central nervous system, subcutaneous tissues, and genitourinary system accounted for nearly 52% of all lesions. In general, granulocytic sarcoma masses were isodense to muscle on CT scans, and isointense and hyperintense (mild to moderate) on T1- and T2-weighted MR images, respectively. The presence of peripheral rim enhancement with hypodense or hypointense centers on T1-weighted images may, however, mimic an abscess.