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Orbital granulocytic sarcoma and AML with poor prognosis in Turkish children

Leukemia volume 16, page 962 (2002)Cite this article

We read the study reported by Bisschop et al1 in Leukemia with great interest.

We would like to make following comments on this study. First, we should mention that the data was well analyzed particularly from a statistical point of view. We agree with the authors that extramedullary leukemia (EML) is more common in the M4 or M5 subtype of AML. In our series, EML in the form of orbito-ocular or orbital granulocytic leukemia (OGS) was also more common in M4 subtype of AML.2,3 OGS is a subgroup of granulocytic sarcoma (GS) that we have been interested in for many years. However, it seems to us that a very important finding, namely orbital localization of myeloblastoma or granulocytic sarcoma (GS) in 35 Dutch children is entirely overlooked. This localization of GS has generally been considered as an unusual or a rare finding in the Western world, in contrast to African and Asian countries.2,3,4 Surprisingly, despite the presence of this important finding, no comment has been made on orbital localization, rather other EML involvements such as gingiva, CNS and skin, have been stressed. EML is a general term and the orbital form represents a subgroup, usually named either ‘orbital chloroma’ or OGS.2,3 Furthermore, there was no information about the race or ethnic origin and the socio-economic status (SES) of the patients, although ethnic diversity in The Netherlands is well known. Interestingly, in recent series of childhood GS reported from South Africa, GS occurred in 60% exclusively in black male children, mostly in orbital form, associated with t(8:21), indicating possible role of race and/or sex.5

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References

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  1. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Research Center in Akara University, Ankara, Turkey

    S Gözdaşoğlu, G Yavuz, E Ünal, N Taçyldz & AO Çavdar

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  1. S Gözdaşoğlu
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  2. G Yavuz
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Gözdaşoğlu, S., Yavuz, G., Ünal, E. et al. Orbital granulocytic sarcoma and AML with poor prognosis in Turkish children. Leukemia 16, 962 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2402449

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