Leukemia and the Peripheral Nervous System: A review

The fate of patients with leukemia has greatly improved in the past decades. Survival has been increased and the once stereotypic pattern of Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infiltration and diffuse infiltration of nerves and muscles has entirely changed. Peripheral nervous structures as cranial nerves, nerve roots, plexus and peripheral nerves can be affected in different types of leukemia, by different mechanisms and at different time points. Treatment side effects become more apparent, as the number of long term survivors increases. In some cases also isolated relapses of leukemia in the nervous system occurs and effects of stem cell transplantation on the nervous system became apparent. Diagnostically the cranial nerves, nerve roots, cauda equina, nerve plexus and the peripheral nerves have become more accessible to investigation due to improved imaging methods as ultrasound and MRI, thus facilitating the earlier diagnosis and treatment of nerve involvement.