Age, sex and late relapse in childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia

Of 53 children with lymphoblastic leukaemia in their first remission who reached the fourth year after stopping treatment, 4 have subsequently relapsed and their cases are described. All are boys and 3 were over 10 at diagnosis despite there being only 6 such patients in the group overall. This suggests that teenage males are at special risk of late relapse and should not be considered cured on criteria applicable to younger females.