[Spontaneous remission of cutaneous myeloid sarcoma]

Abstract

Introduction: Cutaneous myeloid sarcoma is a rare extramedullary tumour of immature myeloid cells. It is most often associated with acute myeloid leukaemia, and more rarely with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease.

Patients and methods: Herein we report a case of cutaneous myeloid sarcoma associated with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease in an 84-year-old man with a diffuse purple papular and nodular rash. The disease course was marked by a spontaneous and total regression for two months. Given the patient's age and general condition, chemotherapy could not be given.

Discussion: Cutaneous myeloid sarcoma is rare. It is often associated with acute myeloid leukaemia, and more rarely with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease, but it can occur in isolation. Diagnosis is particularly difficult and is based a consistent body of clinical and histological evidence. Spontaneous regression is very rare and involves immunological mechanisms that are still incompletely understood. Recurrence occurs within a variable time frame and is often associated with transformation to acute myeloid leukaemia if this was not already present at the time of diagnosis.

Conclusion: Herein we report an extremely rare case of spontaneous regression of cutaneous myeloid sarcoma associated with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease.

Keywords: Cutaneous myeloid sarcoma; Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease; Sarcome myéloïde cutané; Syndrome myélodysplasique myéloprolifératif.