title: Isolated leukemic infiltration of peripheral nervous system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isolated leukemic infiltration of peripheral nerves without central nervous system involvement, or isolated neuroleukemiosis, is an extremely rare complication of leukemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a patient with isolated neuroleukemiosis and review the pertinent literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A man with a 12-year history of acute monoblastic leukemia presented with median mononeuropathy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thickened median nerve. Nerve biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of leukemic infiltration. Clinical resolution was achieved through local radiation. Only 10 cases of isolated neuroleukemiosis have been reported. Most were in remission from leukemia. Our patient is the only one who was considered clinically cured of leukemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presumed pathophysiology of isolated neuroleukemiosis is hematogenous spread of leukemic cells into the peripheral nervous system across the blood-nerve barrier. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with leukemia who present with neuropathy, even when they are considered to be clinically cured of leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Chongshandong Road 4, Shenyang, China, 110032.
authors.forename: Tingzhong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Yanli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Ailin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D001132:Arm / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D009418:S100 Proteins; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
keywords: blood-nerve barrier; leukemia; neuroleukemiosis; neuropathy; peripheral nervous system