Granulocytic sarcoma of the cervix as a primary manifestation: case without overt leukemic features for 26 months

A case of granulocytic sarcoma involving the uterine cervix as primary manifestation without evidence of leukemia is presented. It was followed by neurological symptoms 19 months later and a right breast mass 26 months after the initial cervical lesion, but still with no evidence of leukemia. Two years and four months after onset, soft tissue and skin nodules developed and rare blastic cells appeared on peripheral blood smear. The patient terminally developed acute granulocytic leukemia with a rapidly downhill course. The differential diagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma and histiocytic lymphoma is discussed. The literature is reviewed with emphasis on the clinical and pathological problems that arise when the tumor presents in an unusual location without peripheral blood manifestation of leukemia.