Chloroma of the masseteric muscle

Chloroma (leukemic infiltrate or granulocytic sarcoma) is a localized extra medullary mass of immature granulocytic cells. They are uncommon tumors tha t usually occur in patients with leukemia, mostly of the myeloid type. Invo lvement in the head and neck region is rare. Granulocytic sarcomas of the f ace, maxilla, paranasal sinuses, temporal bone, and pharynx have all been d ocumented in the past. We present the first reported case of a granulocytic sarcoma involving the masseteric muscle in an 8-month-old white male diagn osed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The lesion resolved with chemothera py but the patient subsequently died. This case reaffirms the importance of including chloroma in the differential diagnosis of lesions in patients wi th AML and the prognostic value they hold. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Irelan d Ltd. All rights reserved.