Childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

Childhood ALL is a potentially curable disease. All children suffering from this ailment should be given an opportunity to live by receiving therapy aimed at permanent cure. The disease requires extensive, complex, and costly diagnostic study and treatment. Specialized care is more efficiently given in centers dedicated to treating patients with malignant diseases. The referring physicians are an essential part of the working team delivering care to the children with acute leukemia. Despite improved results, a significant number of patients fail to develop permanent remission. The risk of relapse after cessation of therapy is greatest in the first year and in patients given no specific CNS therapy. However, modern therapy produces a substantial number of long-term leukemia-free survivals in children with ALL, a majority of which persist after cessation of therapy. After cessation of therapy the quality of survival of the vast majority of patients is excellent.