[ZNS complications in children with acute lymphatic leukemia. Computer tomographic studies]

78 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or non-Hodgkin-lymphoma were treated at the Children's Hospital of the University of Heidelberg from December 1971 to April 1979. Following cytostatic treatment and irradiation of the skull 11 children developed CNS-symptoms (mainly seizures and paresis) which were caused by intracerebral hemorrhage, infectious or degenerative CNS-diseases. Cranial axial tomography (CAT) was helpful in finding the cause of the CNS-complication. We recommend routine CAT in the beginning and during the course of treatment of leukemia to document CNS-changes as early as possible and to prevent further damage by alterations of therapy.