External auditory canal and middle ear relapse of acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with arsenic trioxide: case report and review of the literature

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2010 Apr;32(3):229-32. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e3181cf7ef3.

Abstract

Extramedullary involvement occurs infrequently in acute promyelocytic leukemia and is said to be more common after treatment with all-trans retinoic acid. We describe a 9-year-old girl who had an isolated external auditory canal and middle ear relapse after treatment with all-trans retinoic acid and chemotherapy. A patient with cytogenetically and molecularly confirmed acute promyelocytic leukemia developed isolated extramedullary relapse in the auditory canal and middle ear 4 years and 9 months after initial diagnosis, while in hematologic and molecular remission, successfully treated with arsenic trioxide alone.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Arsenicals / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Ear Canal / drug effects
  • Ear Canal / pathology*
  • Ear Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Ear Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Ear, Middle / drug effects
  • Ear, Middle / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / diagnosis*
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis*
  • Oxides / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Arsenicals
  • Oxides
  • Arsenic Trioxide