An autopsy case of granulocytic sarcoma of the porta hepatis causing obstructive jaundice

We describe an extremely rare case of granulocytic sarcoma of the porta hepatis causing obstructive jaundice. The patient was an 84-year-old man admitted because of obstructive jaundice. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) scanning of the abdomen disclosed a mass about 2.5 cm in diameter near the neck of the gallbladder, and thickening of the gallbladder wall. Based on these findings, gallbladder carcinoma was suspected. After endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) was performed, the jaundice resolved. However, blast cells were detected in the peripheral blood 51 days after admission, and laboratory studies disclosed acute myelocytic leukemia (AML: French-American-British [FAB] type M0). We treated him conservatively, with antibiotics and ERBD but he died of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Autopsy showed that the suspected gallbladder carcinoma was actually a granulocytic sarcoma arising in association with AML and causing obstructive jaundice. The largest tumor involved the porta hepatis. It should be kept in mind that granuloctyic sarcoma is a possible cause of obstructive jaundice, even in patients with no evidence of AML.