1986 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 13-17
The results of follow-up study of 27 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia, in whom cytological examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was performed at the time of initial diagnosis, were described. Leukemic cells were found in CSF of 12 cases (CNS (+) group), including 9 cases with normal CSF cell counts, and not found in CSF of 15 cases (CNS (-) group). Complete remission was attained in all cases and the long-term prognosis was not different between the two groups. Seven cases of CNS (+) group and 10 cases of CNS (-) group remain in continuous complete remission for 22∼91 months. It is possible that the prognosis of CNS (+) group was improved by the aggressive CNS therapy for this group. CNS leukemia as an initial relapse occurred not only in CNS (+) group (2 cases) but also in CNS (-) group (2 cases). This fact indicates that the sensitivity of our cytological examination is still not adequate and the CNS involvement must be present at the time of diagnosis of leukemia in almost all cases.
