REFUSES TO WALK AS AN ED PRESENTATION OF ACUTE CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA

New onset of childhood acute leukemia may present to the emergency dep artment in a variety of ways. This report describes the case of a 3-ye ar-old boy who refused to walk and had minimal physical findings, norm al X-rays, and nearly normal lab screening results. His white blood ce ll count differential led to the diagnosis of acute leukemia. The pres entation and evaluation of acute leukemia in children is reviewed. Eme rgency physicians must be prepared to rule out malignancy in the child who refuses to walk when other more common causes, such as infection and trauma, seem unlikely. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company .