title: Detection of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells intermediately differentiated by all-trans retinoic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid: central nervous system involvement in APL.
abstract: We report a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) involving the central nervous system. A 55-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with dysarthria and incomplete right hemiplegia. A CT scan of the brain revealed a low density area in the left cerebrum. APL was diagnosed by bone marrow aspiration and chromosomal analysis. The patient received all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in combination with chemotherapy. Complete hematological remission (CR) was obtained, and the patient's neurological symptoms improved. However, a cytospin smear of the cerebrospinal fluid after CR showed immature myelocytes ("intermediate cells") that had possibly been derived from leukemic promyelocytes. Comprehensive intrathecal treatment as well as cranial irradiation, caused a further reduction in dysarthria and a complete disappearance of hemiplegia with no atypical cells in the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient has undergone maintenance chemotherapy as an out-patient.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsurumi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moriwaki
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin