Case Report
Acute myelogenous leukemia presenting as atypical mastoiditis with facial paralysis*

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Summary

Symptomatic otologic involvement by leukemic infiltration is unusual, most often occurring in the already-diagnosed leukemic patient as postauricular mass, acute hemorrhagic otitis media, mastoiditis, cranial neuropathy, vertigo, hearing loss, or leptomeningitis. We think ours is the first reported patient whose leukemia presented as atypical mastoiditis and facial paralysis due to granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma). At mastoidectomy, tan lobulated rubbery tumor filled the mastoid antrum and middle ear cleft. Complete remission and full return of facial nerve function was achieved with 2500 R local radiation and systemic chemotherapy. We discuss the role and extent of surgery in atypical acute mastoiditis when unsuspected middle ear and mastoid tumor, with inconclusive intra-operative histopathologic data, is found.

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    Leukemia is a malignant disease characterized by abnormal proliferation of white blood cells and their precursors. Symptomatic otologic involvement by leukocyte infiltration is unusual, most often occurring in patients previously diagnosed with leukemia [5]. In 2002, Rhee et al. suggested that recurrent PFP is associated with relapsed leukemia [6].

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    Citation Excerpt :

    Surgical interventions have been described with granulocytic sarcoma (Table 1). Surgical findings at mastoidectomy include a green gelatinous fluid, a yellow amorphous tissue, and a tan lobulated rubber tumor, all positive fore granulocytic sarcoma [1,3,4]. Surgical intervention is not without risks.

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*

Presented paper, 11th Annual Meeting of SENTAC, San Diego, CA, December 4–6, 1983.

**

Present adress: House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

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