Review on gall bladder myeloid sarcoma: a great masquerader
Kamal Kant Sahu1, Santosh Rajaram Kale2, Ahmad Daniyal Siddiqui3
1Hemato-Oncology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA, USA. drkksahu85@gmail.com.
Chinese Clinical Oncology
|May 22, 2020
Summary
Gallbladder myeloid sarcoma (GB-MS) is a rare cause of acute abdomen, often misdiagnosed. This review highlights its poor prognosis and the need for timely diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening condition.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology
Background:
- Abdominal pain has diverse causes, with cholecystitis and cholelithiasis being common culprits.
- Gallbladder myeloid sarcoma (GB-MS) presents as a rare cause of acute abdomen, posing diagnostic challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of gallbladder myeloid sarcoma (GB-MS).
Main Methods:
- Literature review of 17 reported cases of GB-MS presenting with abdominal symptoms.
- Analysis of patient demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic imaging, pathological findings, treatment modalities, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- The median age of patients was 52 years; most presented with abdominal symptoms.
- Three cases were initially misdiagnosed as gallbladder lymphoma or cancer based on imaging or pathology.
- Treatment varied (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), with only 5 patients receiving AML-like chemotherapy; none underwent HSCT.
- Seven patients survived, while nine died, indicating a poor prognosis irrespective of treatment.
Conclusions:
- Acute abdomen complicating blood malignancies like GB-MS is life-threatening.
- Timely detection and appropriate management are crucial for improving outcomes in GB-MS cases, despite the generally poor prognosis.
