Open AccessChronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia: Rare Involvement of the Central Nervous System
Author(s) -
Carolina Amado,
Valter Duarte,
Mariana Silva Leal,
Margarida Cruz,
Gisela Ferreira
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of case reports in internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.125
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2284-2594
DOI - 10.12890/2021_002847
Subject(s) - medicine , central nervous system , chronic lymphocytic leukemia , disease , infiltration (hvac) , cerebrospinal fluid , pathology , lymphocytic infiltration , immunology , leukemia , physics , thermodynamics
Involvement of the central nervous system, although uncommon, is one of the most frequent extramedullary manifestations of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Various conditions can lead to neurological symptoms in CLL patients and distinguishing between clinically significant CLL involvement of the CNS and other aetiologies can be challenging. The authors report the case of a 90-year-old woman with a previous diagnosis of low-risk CLL who presented to the emergency room with altered mental status. After the most frequent causes were ruled out and considering the underlying disease, CNS infiltration by clonal B-cells was hypothesised and later confirmed. Treatment was initiated, but the patient died soon afterwards.