[Gastrointestinal neurofibromatosis. A rare cause of abdominal surgery].

OBJECTIVE

Report two cases of gastrointestinal neurofibromatosis that required surgical intervention for their resolution.

BACKGROUND

Neurofibromatosis is a congenital disease which is classified in two types. In neurofibromatosis type 1 or Von Recklinghausen's disease the patients have some classical manifestations as cafe au lait pigmentation, bony abnormalities and neurofibromas of both peripheral and central nerves. In up to 25% of the patients with neurofibromatosis 1, the gastrointestinal tract is involved. The most affected organs are the stomach and the jejunum. The symptoms of the patients with gastrointestinal neurofibromatosis are related to gastrointestinal bleeding or obstruction.

METHOD: Two patients with gastrointestinal neurofibromatosis that required surgical intervention for the resolution of their manifestations.

RESULTS

Two cases of gastrointestinal neurofibromatosis, one of them had as her main clinical feature gastrointestinal bleeding, and the other patient intestinal obstruction. They were submitted to exploratory laparotomy finding gastrointestinal neurofibromatosis in both as the cause of their symptomatology.

CONCLUSIONS

The management of gastrointestinal neurofibromatosis could need surgical intervention, and when this is done the postoperative evolution is satisfactory.