Meningeal leukemia after blastic transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia

In two patients with blastic transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia complete remission was induced, but meningeal leukemia subsequently developed. The recognition of blast cell crisis as the presenting feature of chronic myeloid leukemia is discussed, together with treatment of this condition and its rare complication, meningeal leukemia. The development of meningeal leukemia in this disease is almost certainly due to the increased survival that has been produced by advances in therapy for blastic transformation.