ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH A MEDIASTINAL TUMOR

We describe a 45-year-old female who developed acute myelogenous leuke mia (AML) associated with a mediastinal mass. The patient achieved a c omplete remission accompanied by resolution of the mediastinal mass fo llowing intensive chemotherapy alone. A review of the literature discl osed ten AML patients with a mediastinal tumor; all five patients who had mediastinal granulocytic sarcoma treated by local irradiation prio r to developing AML, eventually relapsed as frank leukemia and died so on afterwards. On the other hand, three of the other five patients who simultaneously developed both a mediastinal tumor and overt AML achie ved complete remission with combination chemotherapy. In conclusion, i ntensive chemotherapy should be considered for a patient with granuloc ytic sarcoma of the mediastinum, irrespective of the concomitant leuke mia.