Computed tomography scans of the brain in acute leukemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma. Follow-up of children receiving prophylactic central nervous system irradiation

Abstract

Twenty-seven long-term survivors diagnosed between 1971 and 1977 as having acute lymphoblastic leukemia (23 children), acute myeloblastic leukemia (1 child), and lymphoblastic lymphoma (3 children) have been studied using CT scans of the brain. None of the children had ever had symptoms or signs of CNS involvement. CT scanning was performed in 19 cases at the cessation of therapy; in the other eight cases, CT scanning was performed 24 to 49 months after the end of therapy. In all children, CNS prophylaxis included cranial irradiation with 24 Gy. Six children were also given spinaJ radiation, while in the remaining 21 cases intrathecal Methotrexate was given 5–6 times. CT scans of the brain showed slight abnormalities with increased ventricular size in only two cases. No differences in attenuation or intracranial calcifications were found. (CT = Computed Tomography, ALL = Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, AML = Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia, CNS = Central Nervous System). Acute leukemia, brain, children, CT scan...