Unusual extramedullary recurrences and breast relapse despite hepatic GVHD after allografting in Ph+-ALL

Neutrophilic and eosinophilic dermatoses associated with hematological malignancy

Cutaneous manifestations of hematologic malignancy represent both a clinical challenge for the treating physician and a pathophysiological model for advancing the knowledge on individual neoplasms. Indeed, a growing body of evidence supports the concept of recurrent molecular defects associating with specific clinical features, as best exemplified by VEXAS. Herein neutrophilic and eosinophilic dermatoses of potential interest for both hematologists and dermatologists will be reviewed, including subcorneal pustular dermatosis-type IgA pemphigus, neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis, Sweet's syndrome as well as myelodysplasia cutis and VEXAS, pyoderma gangrenosum, eosinophilic annular erythema, eosinophilic dermatosis of hematological malignancy, Wells syndrome and cutaneous involvement in hypereosinophilic syndromes. Possible management approaches are discussed for each, emphasizing scenarios that require treatment of the underlying condition to achieve remission at the skin level.

Complete response of extramedullary relapse in breast of acute T lymphoblastic leukemia after bone marrow transplantation to chemoradiotherapy: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) occurring in the breast after allografting is extremely rare, with only 22 reported cases in the literature thus far. Further, the lack of a systemic analysis provides little information about this entity. We present a case of isolated extramedullary relapse from acute T lymphoblastic leukemia (ATLL) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

CASE PRESENTATION

A 32-year-old Chinese woman diagnosed with ATLL with myeloid antigen expression received HSCT from her human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sister and presented with two lesions in her right breast 6 months later. Pathology investigation revealed breast relapse, with complete remission on the basis of bone marrow findings. Combined modality treatment including chemotherapy and local radiotherapy helped achieve complete remission with mild side effects.

CONCLUSION

The findings from this case indicate that the breast is a potentially involved extramedullary site of relapse for ALL patients after HSCT. In the case of a newly developed breast lump in such patients, clinicians consider local relapse even if the bone marrow findings indicate remission. Combined modality treatment will contribute to better local control and improve prognosis.

Granulocytic sarcoma of the breast in acute myeloid leukemia: Two case reports

Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) of the breast is extremely rare in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and therefore, is often misdiagnosed as lymphoma or other benign tumors. The current report presents two cases of GS of the breast, of which, one was considered to be a fibroma, as observed by fine-needle aspiration, and the other was misdiagnosed as lymphoma by frozen section. Previous literature that described the clinical and pathological characteristics, treatments and prognosis of GS of the breast in AML were reviewed. In addition to the treatment of mastectomy with/without radiotherapy, lumpectomy may also be received as a good treatment plan.

Breast leukemia: an update

BACKGROUND

Breast leukemia is extremely rare. The published data on this manifestation include predominantly case reports and do not provide any statistical information.

PURPOSE

To identify clinical signs and radiological features of breast leukemia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

PubMed and Medline databases between 1980 and 2010 were screened using 'breast leukemia' and 'leukemia of the breast' as keywords. Secondary references were also reviewed. By this search, a total of 139 patients were identified from the literature.

RESULTS

In most patients (n = 85, 61.2%) acute myeloid leukemia was diagnosed. Acute lymphatic leukemia occurred in 35 patients (25.2%). Isolated BL before bone marrow infiltration was seen in 24 patients (17.3%). Involvement of the breast during the course of leukemia was diagnosed in 25 cases (18%). Intramammary leukemic relapse after therapy/stem cell transplantation occurred in 59 patients (42.4%). In 71 cases (51.1%) the lesions were solitary and in 57 (41%) multiple. The number of lesions was not reported in 11 patients (7.9%). There was no significant difference between the number of lesions in ML and LL. Clinically, 73% of the patients presented with palpable breast masses. Most of them were painless. Mammography was performed in 39 patients, allowing the identification of the following three mammographic patterns: breast masses (28 patients, 72%), architectural distortion (5 patients, 13%), no abnormalities (6 patients, 15%). On ultrasound, most identified masses were homogeneously hypoechoic with microlobulated or indistinct margins. On MRI, on T2-weighted images breast lesions were hyperintense. After venous administration of contrast medium, BL showed marked inhomogeneous contrast enhancement. Treatment of BL is the same as for other localizations and is based on chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

In the present study the clinical and radiological features of BL are described. They are non-specific. However, BL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of breast disorders, especially in patients with leukemia.

Isolated extramedullary relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the breast of an adolescent girl: radiologic findings and discussion

We report a case of isolated extramedullary leukemia relapse in the breast of an adolescent girl. A 13-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission, post-chemotherapy and unrelated cord blood transplant, presented with a breast lump. US and mammography demonstrated a large hypervascular heterogeneous mass. Examination of tissue provided by US-guided core biopsy confirmed focal leukemic relapse. US is a commonly used diagnostic tool in children and adolescents with a breast mass, for both characterization and guided biopsy.

Isolated relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the breast of a young female

A 20-year-old female developed a relapse of B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as a mass in her left breast after 6 years of maintained continuous complete remission. No leukemic lesions were identified in other sites such as the bone marrow or cerebrospinal fluid. The relapsed leukemic cells in the breast revealed the same immunophenotypes (CD10(+), CD19(+), CD20(+), HLA-DR(+), CD34(+)) as those of the onset ALL cells in the bone marrow. A literature survey found 10 other cases of ALL relapse in the breast without bone marrow involvement, mostly consisting of adolescent girls. Including the present report, a total of 11 cases were analyzed; the onset ages of ALL were a median of 16.5 (range 5-50) years old and the ages of relapse in the breast a median of 20 (range 12-51) years old. Data suggest that, although rare, the breast could become one of the extramedullary relapse sites of ALL developed in adolescent girls.