REVIEW   

Minerva Pediatrica 2019 October;71(5):470-4

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4946.16.04445-5

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Central nervous system disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Mingwei JIN, Qi AN ✉, Shumei XU

Department of Hematology, Xuzhou Children’s Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the commonest childhood malignancy. Despite therapeutic advancements, relapse of the pathological state in the form of central nervous system (CNS) disease remains a challenge. CNS disease appears to be present at diagnosis in at least 40% of patients. This relapse in the form of CNS disease is one of the major hurdles in achieving complete cure. The present review article aims to discuss the important mechanisms of leukemic entry and infiltration patterns of leukemic cells into the CNS. Also, latest updates in the management strategies of ALL will also be focused in the present article.

KEY WORDS: Precursor cell lymphoblastic leukemia-lymphoma; Central nervous system; Recurrence