Cholecystitis as the presenting manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia: report of a case.

We report a case of acute leukemia, which presented as cholecystitis in a previously healthy middle-aged adult. Leukemic involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is a well-known clinicopathological entity. However, leukemic infiltration of the gall bladder wall is a rare occurrence. It has only been previously described in the setting of relapsed disease and, to our knowledge, has never been reported as the primary manifestation of de novo acute leukemia. The patient in question was treated with standard induction and consolidation chemotherapy and remains in complete remission 19 months after his presentation with symptoms consistent with cholecystitis. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.