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Chronic subdural hematoma in childhood acute leukemia
Author(s) -
Pitner Samuel E.,
Johnson Warren W.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197307)32:1<185::aid-cncr2820320128>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - medicine , leukemia , acute leukemia , acute lymphocytic leukemia , chronic subdural hematoma , chronic lymphocytic leukemia , hematoma , cerebrospinal fluid , pleocytosis , pathology , radiology , lymphoblastic leukemia
Chronic subdural hematomas were present at necropsy in 13 of 126 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (10.3%), and were absent in other types of acute leukemia. Thrombocytopenia, which was usually associated with acute subdural bleeding, was thought to have an insignificant role in the pathogenesis of chronic subdural hematoma. Clinically, the frequent coexistence of meningeal leukemia and chronic subdural hematoma made diagnosis difficult. We believe that chronic subdural hematoma should be suspected in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia and neurologic symptoms who have no pleocytosis or blast cells in the cerebrospinal fluid, seizures, focal neurologic signs, or poor clinical response to therapy for meningeal leukemia. In view of the improving prognosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia, an aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach is advocated.