Granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma) of the oral cavity: a case with aleukemic presentation.

A case of granulocytic sarcoma, or chloroma, of the palatal mucosa, which developed 15 months before the onset of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), is reported. The diagnosis was suspected on the basis of the light microscopic findings and confirmed by histochemical studies. Granulocytic sarcomas are rare, may be observed in a variety of body locations, and are considered specific lesions of AML or of the onset of blast crisis in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Primary granulocytic sarcomas of the oral cavity without systemic manifestations of AML are extremely rare. Clinical diagnosis of these lesions in patients with normal peripheral blood and bone marrow may be very difficult.