Cerebrovascular complications in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer, with central nervous system (CNS) complications occurring in approximately 10% of cases. This study aimed to analyze cerebrovascular complications in pediatric ALL patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 144 pediatric ALL patients treated at the University Children's Hospital in Lublin from 2014 to 2023. Statistical analyses were performed using PQStat software. Among the patients, 12.5% (n = 18) developed cerebrovascular complications, with equal distribution between genders. The median age was 6.3 years. Most complications (83.3%) occurred during induction therapy. The most frequent symptom was seizures (50%), followed by impaired consciousness (39%). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected ischemic complications in 44.4% of affected patients. No significant correlation was found between risk group, diagnostic parameters, or gender and CNS complications. CNS complications, particularly seizures and ischemic events, are common in pediatric ALL, primarily during induction therapy. MRI plays a crucial role in early detection. Further multicenter studies are necessary to improve management and reduce treatment-related neurotoxicity.