Chronic lymphocytic leukemia with hypothalamic invasion.
Headaches and a state of confusion developed in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). A computed tomography (CT) scan of the head showed a hyperdense lesion in the hypothalamus with obstruction of the foramina of Monro. Leukemic cells with monoclonal lambda B-cell markers were identified in the ventricular fluid at the time of surgical decompression. Similar cells were identified in the peripheral blood. This lesion has not been described as a complication of CLL, a disease that, unlike other leukemias, rarely has central nervous system manifestations.
Garofalo
M
M
Department of Neurology, St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center of New York, New York 10011.
Murali
R
R
Halperin
I
I
Magardician
K
K
Moussouris
H F
HF
Masdeu
J C
JC
D000368:Aged; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007029:Hypothalamic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed