Granulocytic sarcoma (so-called chloroma) as a possible cause of spinal cord compression. Case report and diagnostic considerations

Granulocytic sarcomas (so-called chloromas) are rare extramedullary tumorli ke proliferates of myelogenous precursor cells that may de novo precede acu te leukemia or coincide with the first manifestation or relapse of acute my eloid leukemia. Rarely, such tumors represent the initial manifestation of a blast crisis in the course of a chronic myeloproliferative disease, such as chronic myeloid leukemia. If they occur in aleukemic patients incorrect diagnoses may result. Differential diagnostic considerations are being disc ussed by presenting the case of a 58-year-old man who experienced spinal co rd compression by an isolated epidural mass lesion.