Bone deformities in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: Single-center experience.

BACKGROUND

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is the most common neurocutaneous syndrome with an autosomal dominant inheritance. However, half of the cases are de novo mutations. Involvement of bone, skin (cafe au lait macules), as well as ocular and tumoral formations is also associated with NF-1. Here, we present our case series of patients with bone deformities.

METHODS

The medical files of patients with NF-1 who were followed up by the same doctor in the pediatric neurology outpatient clinic over 2 years were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall, 19 girls and 13 boys were diagnosed with NF-1. Of these 32 patients, 12 (nine girls, three boys) were found to have bone pathologies. The average age was of these patients with bone pathology was 7.5 and 9.5 years. Scoliosis, bowing, short stature, and long bone cysts were found in descending order of frequency. Severe adhesions in the hands and feet as well as phalangeal hypoplasia were noted in one patient.

CONCLUSION

NF-1 requires a multidisciplinary approach. Routine follow-up is very important as it is known that deformities that affect different systems may appear or increase with age. Severe hand and foot anomalies seen in one of our patients did not seem to be associated with NF-1.