Brain involvement in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Cerebral infiltration due to chronic lymphocytic leukemia is rare. Leukemic infiltration of the brain can be diagnosed by computed tomography, and the response to treatment can be monitored. Leukemic cerebral infiltrates may occur as areas of variable attenuation that usually enhance following intravenous contrast medium administration. They can be differentiated from areas of leukoencephalopathy related either to the disease or treatment with drugs by their characteristic locations contiguous with cortical or ependymal surfaces, or adjacent to shunt tubing.