Spinal myeloid sarcoma in two non-leukemic patients

Myeloid sarcoma, formerly termed granulocytic sarcoma or chloroma, consists of neoplastic granulocytic precursors and myeloblasts. Isolated chloromas (granulocytic sarcomas) are rare tumors. Spinal complications of chloromas, such as cord compression secondary to epidural tumor or cauda equine syndrome have been described but are rare. We herein report two cases with spinal granulocytic sarcomas in non-leukemic patients. The case of a previously healthy 22-year-old man diagnosed with multiple spinal granulocytic sarcomas with no evidence of bone marrow or other hematological involvement is described. And, a 43-year-old woman diagnosed cervical spinal granulocytic sarcoma with no evidence of bone marrow or other hematological involvement is described. The tumor was totally removed by microsurgery. The histopathological examination was consistent with granulocytic sarcoma. Granulocytic sarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an epidural mass in patients with or without acute leukemia, because early diagnosis followed by appropriate combined chemotherapy and radiation may obviate surgical intervention and eventually prevent leukemic transformation.