ORTHOPEDIC MANIFESTATIONS OF ACUTE PEDIATRIC LEUKEMIA

The variety and distribution of skeletal lesions in children with acut e lymphoblastic leukemia is rarely seen in other diseases. Skeletal ra diographic changes that can occur in a child with acute leukemia inclu de diffuse osteopenia, metaphyseal bands, periosteal new bone formatio n, geographic osteolysis, osteosclerosis, mixed osteolysis and scleros is, and permeative destruction. It is important for orthopedic surgeon s to recognize the skeletal manifestations of acute leukemia of childh ood because the physician who initially evaluates the child will often be an orthopedic surgeon, and a delay in diagnosis has an adverse aff ect on survival.