Blasts in CSF with a normal cell count do not justify alteration of therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission: a Childrens Cancer Group study.

Abstract

Blast cells were infrequently identified in cytocentrifuge preparations of CSF when the cell count was normal. The majority of patients in whom such an event was observed have not experienced a subsequent relapse as measured by life-table analysis at 5 years. The data do not justify changing or augmenting therapy based on cytocentrifuge results alone.