Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is an extramedullary tumor composed of granulocytic precursor cells. The tumor usually develops during the course of myelogenous leukemia or myeloproliferative disorders and may represent the initial manifestation of leukemia. Rarely, GS is recognized as an isolated tumor without any evidence of leukemia. However, in such cases, leukemia generally develops within 1 to 2 years of the diagnosis of GS. We are reporting a case of a 45-year-old woman who was diagnosed as having an isolated GS of the right breast in August 1980. She was treated with a partial mastectomy followed by 1 year of combination chemotherapy as used in the cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia and has remained free of disease to the present time. That is, she has not developed leukemia or recurrence of GS for 64 months. Based on this experience and on the review of the literature, we recommend that all cases of GS be treated with combination chemotherapy as in cases of acute myeloblastic leukemias.

The variations between different lots of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) produced by three major North American suppliers were evaluated over the past eight years. The authors found significant variations between the heparin sensitivity of the APTT reagents produced under the same name by the same supplier. The variations were so much that, using the recommended APTT ratio or prolongation of APTT for monitoring heparin therapy, one would have achieved significantly different intensity of heparinization from year to year.

No abstract