title: Central nervous system disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the commonest childhood malignancy. Despite therapeutic advancements, relapse of the pathological state in the form of central nervous system (CNS) disease remains a challenge. CNS disease appears to be present at diagnosis in at least 40% of patients. This relapse in the form of CNS disease is one of the major hurdles in achieving complete cure. The present review article aims to discuss the important mechanisms of leukemic entry and infiltration patterns of leukemic cells into the CNS. Also, latest updates in the management strategies of ALL will also be focused in the present article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Mingwei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China - aiqiangel@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shumei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome