SPONTANEOUS REMISSION OF PAPILLEDEMA AND 6TH NERVE PALSY IN ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA

Spontaneous regression of hematologic malignancies is not uncommon and occurs in a wide variety of lymphomas and leukemias. In contrast, spo ntaneous remission of neurologic symptoms produced by these tumors is exceedingly rare. We report a patient with central nervous system acut e lymphoblastic leukemia who experienced at least one spontaneous remi ssion of papilledema and sixth nerve palsy. This represents, to our kn owledge, the first case of spontaneous remission of neuro-ophthalmolog ic signs in a patient with acute leukemia. We conclude that meningeal leukemia may have a protracted course, and that spontaneous remission of neuro-ophthalmologic findings should not be so readily ascribed to a benign process in a patient with preexisting leukemia.