Linear high signal of brain CT in a patient with leukemic encephalopathy.

Abstract

Leukemic encephalopathy is a syndrome characterized by neurological and psychiatric abnormalities caused by meningeal and brain tissue lesions resulting from leukemia and its complications. The incidence of leukemic encephalopathy is relatively low, but it may increase in certain types of leukemia, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The specific incidence varies among reports and studies, with some indicating an occurrence rate of about 5%, while domestic reports suggest that the incidence of leukemic encephalopathy in acute myeloid leukemia is generally less than 3%. In the chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia, leukemic encephalopathy is occasionally observed, but during the acute phase, especially during acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the likelihood of developing leukemic encephalopathy increases. There are few reports regarding its occurrence during acute transformation. Here, we present a case of acute transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia accompanied by leukemic encephalopathy treated at our hospital, aiming to enhance clinical understanding of leukemic encephalopathy.