GRANULOCYTIC SARCOMA OF THE PROSTATE AS THE 1ST MANIFESTATION OF A LATE RELAPSE OF ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA

We describe a 68-year-old patient who developed granulocytic sarcoma o f the prostate 9 years after complete remission following successful t reatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (FAB, M2). PCR analysis of bone marrow samples in first remission and at the time of relapse detected an AML1/ETO rearrangement typical for AMLs with t (8; 21). The CD 56 antigen was not expressed on the leukemic cells. Systemic chemotherapy led to a short-lasting regression of the tumor, but the patient subse quently developed overt bone marrow relapse and died during chemothera py. While granulocytic sarcoma as a primary manifestation of AML is we ll known, as the first manifestation of relapse it appears to be very uncommon.