Cranial computed tomography of 64 children in continuous complete remission of leukemia II: relations to patient data and neurological complications.

Abnormal widening of cortical sulci as seen in posttherapeutic cranial computed tomography (CCT) of 64 children in complete continuous remission (CCR) of acute lymphoblastic leucemia (ALL)/non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was related to patient data and neurological complications during the application of West Berlin treatment protocol. Age and neurological/neurodevelopmental findings of the patients at diagnosis of their disease positively and significantly correlated with CCT abnormalities. Abnormal pre- and intratherapeutic electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, the development of a severe polyneuropathy syndrome and/or a considerable loss of weight during treatment were frequently associated with an abnormal widening of cortical sulci. Occurrence of transient early encephalopathy syndrome, development of radiation induced blood brain barrier disturbance and somnolence syndrome were not correlated with these CCT changes. Possible explanations of these abnormalities are discussed.