Medicina: Oncoematologia pediatrica: Leucemia linfoblastica acuta
| English |
| cns prophylaxis |
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| Attestation |
3
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| Variant |
Central Nervous System Prophylaxis
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| Definition |
Chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the central nervous system (CNS). This is preventative treatment. It is given to kill cancer cells that may be in the brain and spinal cord, even though no cancer has been detected there.
In certain types of leukemia, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute monocytic leukemia with high blood cell counts, there is a propensity for the leukemic cells to enter the covering of the spinal cord and brain (the meninges). This process is often not apparent until months or years after remission when the leukemia returns, first in the coverings of the central nervous system, then in the marrow and blood. To prevent this type of relapse (meningeal leukemia), virtually all children and adults with acute lymphocytic leukemia who enter remission are treated by placing appropriate chemotherapy in the space that bathes the spinal cord and brain to prevent the leukemia from returning in these sites. In some cases, X-ray therapy is administered to the head as well. These approaches are very effective in eliminating leukemia cells in the coverings of the brain and spinal cord.
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| Definition source |
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2766&rd=1
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_glossary.adp
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| Context |
The long term deleterious effects of cranial radiation when used for CNS prophylaxis, particularly at doses greater than 1800 cGy, have been recognized for years.
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| Context source |
en32
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| Synonym |
CNS preventive therapy; preventive CNS therapy, presymptomatic central nervous system therapy.
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| Subject field |
Pediatric Oncohematology
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| de |
ZNS-Prophylaxe
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| it |
profilassi SNC
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| Reliability code |
3
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