A rare case of spinal myeloid sarcoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Hematology

Background:

• Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a rare extramedullary tumor of myeloid blast cells, classified as a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
• Isolated, primary, nonleukemic MS has a low incidence (2/1,000,000 adults) and accounts for only 0.7% of AML cases.
• Spinal involvement is an uncommon presentation of MS.

Observation:

• A male patient presented with interscapular pain radiating to the right upper arm and neck, with no neurological deficits.
• The patient was diagnosed with isolated spinal MS and underwent surgical decompression, local irradiation, chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation.
• Postoperatively, the patient experienced graft-versus-host rejection, necessitating further treatment.

Findings:

• Diagnosing MS requires histological confirmation of myeloblasts and granulocytic cells.
• Optimal treatment strategies for MS are not well-established.
• Despite multimodal therapy, the long-term prognosis for MS remains poor.

Implications:

• This case highlights the diagnostic challenges and poor prognosis associated with spinal myeloid sarcoma.
• Further research is needed to improve treatment strategies and patient outcomes for this rare malignancy.
• Early diagnosis and tailored therapeutic approaches may be crucial for managing spinal MS.