The central nervous system leukemia: a clinical and pathological study

Abstract

An increasing number of patients with central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) are now being observed. This has been attributed to lenghtening survival since the advent of effective antileukemic therapy 4,5,26,27. CNSL may occur as an initial manifestation of systemic leukemia (28); interva between the onset of the disease and CNS involvement; total survival and survival after CNS involvement. Autopsy descriptions and histologic slides of CNS were reviewed in each case. Special emphasis was placed on amount and location of leukemic cells and hemorrhage. Other lesions including edema, demyelination, infarct, infection and calcification were also evaluated. One or more slides were generally examined from each of the following sites: frontal, parietal and occipital cortex; internal capsule and basal ganglia; hippocampus, midbrain, pons, medulla and cerebellum. Sections form at least three levels of spinal cord were also examined in most instances.Intracranial hemorrhage was classified according to Phair (22) in: A. Intracerebral -1. petechial and of no clinical significance; 2. focal, either single or multiple but less