Primary Central Nervous System Leukemia Presenting as Altered Mental Status

Brenna Monsef; Nicole Carpp

doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2021.07.008

Primary Central Nervous System Leukemia Presenting as Altered Mental Status

J Emerg Med. 2021 Oct;61(4):e51-e53. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2021.07.008. Epub 2021 Aug 10.

Authors

Brenna Monsef¹, Nicole Carpp¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana.

PMID: 34384665
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2021.07.008

Abstract

Background: Altered mental status is a common cause for presentation to the emergency department with a broad differential diagnosis.

Case report: We present a unique case of altered mental status in a previously healthy man that was found to be secondary to primary central nervous system acute lymphoblastic leukemia. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Lumbar puncture remains a critical tool for emergency physicians in the diagnosis of central nervous system pathologies.

Keywords: acute lymphoblastic leukemia; altered mental status; central nervous system malignancy; lumbar puncture.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Central Nervous System
Diagnosis, Differential
Emergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders*
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / complications
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / diagnosis