CT findings of brain atrophy after chemotheraphy in acute leukemia

A study was performed to evaluate the atrophic changes of the central nerve system after chemotheraphy in thepatients with acute leukemia. The computed tomographic findings and medical records of 20 proven acute leukemia patients under 35 years-old who developed various CNS symptoms and signs during and/or after 2 course of chemotheraphy were reviewed. The results were as follows: 1. Age distribution was from 14 to 35 years (mean was 26 years). Male was 15. 2. Presenting clinical symptoms and signs were headache (16/20), nausea and vomiting (11/20) and loss of consciousness(5/20). 3. Brain atrophy was noted in 16 patients including cortical and subcorticalatrophy 15 cases and subcortical atrophy 1 case. 4. Two cases of hemorrhage, one each of intracranial hematoma and chronic subdural hematoma were found in addition to brain atrophy. This showed that chemotherapeutic agents causebrain atrophy in a considerable number of the patients with symptomatic acute leukemia.