Abstract
The potential long-term toxicity of central nervous system prophylaxis (CNS-P) in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL, n = 17) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL, n = 7) was investigated in a multidisciplinary study. At least 4 years had elapsed from CNS-P (mean 11.5 years) for all patients. Neurological history and physical examination were unremarkable; minor signs were commoner in older patients (P less than 0.02). Psychometry yielded normal results, but individual verbal IQ generally exceeded performance IQ, with a trend to more marked differences in younger adults (P = 0.06). EEG was scored and differed significantly from that of controls, with a tendency to more marked (but still minor) abnormalities in younger patients (P = 0.06). Brainstem auditory evoked potentials demonstrated significant but generally minor abnormality in 24% of patients. CT brain scan revealed widening of cerebral hemisphere sulci to greater than 3 mm in 38% of patients; cerebral atrophy was commoner in the older group (P less than 0.02) and those with neurological signs (P less than 0.02). MRI brain scans were normal in all patients tested. Thus, following standard CNS-P for ALL at this hospital, there is a 5% primary CNS relapse rate, and only minimal, mainly subclinical, long-term neuropsychological toxicity.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tucker, J., Prior, P., Green, C. et al. Minimal neuropsychological sequelae following prophylactic treatment of the central nervous system in adult leukaemia and lymphoma. Br J Cancer 60, 775–780 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1989.358
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1989.358
This article is cited by
-
Clinical utility of complex assessment with evoked potentials in acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors: comparison of various treatment protocols
BMC Cancer (2021)
-
Long-term effects of cranial irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy in treatment of childhood leukemia: a MEG study of power spectrum and correlated cognitive dysfunction
BMC Neurology (2012)
-
The impact of therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on intelligence quotients; results of the risk-stratified randomized central nervous system treatment trial MRC UKALL XI
Journal of Hematology & Oncology (2011)
-
Novel therapies for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports (2009)