Abstract
Neurological manifestations of leukemia can be due to direct effects of the malignancy
or due to the indirect effects of infection or therapy. An 11-year-old boy presented
with recent-onset weight gain with papilledema and a history of tuberculosis contact.
Neuroimaging and initial microscopic examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
did not aid in the diagnosis of central nervous system leukemia. He was started on
antitubercular treatment yet deteriorated. Repeat CSF analysis when subjected to cytospin
and flow cytometry confirmed the diagnosis of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(ALL). Although there have been reports of relapsed ALL presenting as obesity, isolated
rapid changes in weight at initial presentation are a very rare and unusual manifestation
of ALL. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such report.
Keywords
Leukemia - meningitis - rapid weight gain - tuberculosis
