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Case report describes myeloid sarcoma relapse in breast after nasal cavity presentation

Case report describes myeloid sarcoma relapse in breast after nasal cavity presentation
Photo by Bioscience Image Library by Fayette Reynolds / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider immunohistochemical panels with myeloid markers to differentiate myeloid sarcoma from carcinomas.

This publication is a case report involving a single 68-year-old female patient. The clinical scenario involves myeloid sarcoma and acute myeloid leukemia. The patient received localized radiotherapy and cytarabine-based systemic chemotherapy as initial treatment. She achieved complete remission following this initial treatment phase. Further chemotherapy and hypofractionated radiotherapy were utilized during the course of management.

A relapse occurred in the right breast 6 years after the primary myeloid sarcoma of the right nasal cavity. Relapse was confirmed by myeloperoxidase positivity. The follow-up duration was 6 years disease-free interval prior to this event. Adverse events were not reported in the source material. The setting was not reported in the available data.

The authors emphasize the critical role of a comprehensive immunohistochemical panel. This includes myeloid-specific markers to differentiate myeloid sarcoma from poorly differentiated carcinomas. Clinicians should utilize these markers for accurate diagnosis. The practice relevance highlights this diagnostic necessity.

This case highlights the potential for late relapse in myeloid sarcoma. The evidence remains limited to a single patient experience. Limitations include the single patient sample size which restricts generalizability. No statistical analysis was performed due to the study design.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a rare extramedullary manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia. While MS can involve various organs, isolated involvement of the nasal cavity or breast is uncommon, and the sequential involvement of both sites in a single patient is extremely rare. We present the case of a 68-year-old female who developed an MS relapse in the right breast 6 years after being treated for primary MS of the right nasal cavity. In 2018, she presented with a right nasal mass, initially suspected clinically to be a polyp. Histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses confirmed MS. She achieved complete remission following localized radiotherapy and cytarabine-based systemic chemotherapy. After a six-year disease-free interval, she presented in 2025 with a painful right breast nodule. Initial imaging indicated a primary breast malignancy (BI-RADS 4B). However, postoperative IHC analysis, demonstrating myeloperoxidase (MPO) positivity, confirmed an extramedullary relapse of MS. The patient was subsequently treated with further chemotherapy and hypofractionated radiotherapy. This case highlights that extramedullary MS can perfectly mimic primary solid tumors both clinically and morphologically. It emphasizes the critical role of a comprehensive immunohistochemical panel, particularly the inclusion of myeloid-specific markers, in differentiating MS from poorly differentiated carcinomas. Such pathological vigilance is indispensable for avoiding catastrophic diagnostic pitfalls and preventing inappropriate surgical interventions in patients presenting with atypical extramedullary masses.
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