Isolated leukemic infiltration of peripheral nervous system
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Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Isolation of Brain-infiltrating Leukocytes
Published on: June 13, 2011
Tingzhong Wang1, Yuan Miao, Yanli Meng
1Department of Neurosurgery, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Chongshandong Road 4, Shenyang, China, 110032.
Introduction:
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.
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