Granulocytic sarcoma of the intestine as a primary manifestation nine months prior to overt acute myelogenous leukemia.

A case of granulocytic sarcoma is reported. A 51-year-old male was found, upon laparotomy, to have a tumor mass in the terminal ileum. Nine months later, acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) was diagnosed upon a peripheral blood and bone marrow examination showing an increased number of abnormal myeloblasts. Scattered lesions of granulocytic sarcoma were found in the intestine, colon, testis, skin, gingiva and bone marrow. Chemotherapy, with multiple regimens for leukemia in combination, did not affect the tumor and the patient died 10 months following his development of overt leukemia. Detailed pathological findings are presented because of the difficulty in differentiating granulocytic sarcoma from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.