An autopsy case of liposarcoma with granulocytic leukemoid reaction

A 57-year-old female with a large retroperitoneal tumor was atutopsied. She showed through the entire course of illness marked leukocytosis with the appearance of immature marrow cells, and this finding was hematologically interpreted as granulocytic leukemoid reaction. An intermittent pyrexia was also seen without infective etiology. The histologic diagnosis of the tumor was liposarcoma of the pleomorphic type. The tumor showed extensive necrosis, but no metastatic invasion was found. So-called leukemoid reaction appears sometimes together with malignant neoplasms. The majority of these tumors show widespread bone marrow metastases, and without bone marrow invasion they only rarely induce this reaction. Besides it is not common for leukemoid reaction to be evoked by the development of malignant mesenchymal tumors except for malignant lymphomas. The pathophysiologic process of the present of the present case is thought to be a rare occurrence.