Gliomas in children following radiation therapy for lymphoblastic leukemia

Four children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed intracranial gliomas between 40 and 120 months following multiagent chemotherapy, prophylactic whole brain irradiation, and intrathecal Methotrexate. The diagnosis of glioma was confirmed in each case with biopsy or autopsy. These children were part of a larger series of 73 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated at Indiana University receiving 24 Gy as per the protocol guidelines of the Children's Cancer Study Group. Currently 42 patients of the original 73 children survive in continuous remission.