scholarly journals Neurofibromatosis Type 1 in a Pediatric Population: Ste-Justine's Experience

Author(s):  
J.M. Boulanger ◽  
A. Larbrisseau

ABSTRACT:Background:To date, few pediatric series of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) have been described in the literature even though it is the most frequently encountered phakomatosis.Methods:We reviewed 987 charts of pediatric patients with a presumptive diagnosis of NF-1 who were evaluated at Ste-Justine hospital from January 1, 1991 to July 31, 2002. Patients who presented with two or more cardinal criteria were diagnosed with NF-1. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected, including: demographics, neuroimaging and presence or absence of associated symptoms or signs of NF-1.Results:A total of 279 patients were diagnosed with NF-1. The mean age at diagnosis was 3.4 years. Ninety-nine percent of the patients had café au lait spots and 47% had a first degree relative with NF-1. Almost 60 percent (59.6%) of those seen by an ophthalmologist had Lisch nodules. Optic glioma was found in in 14.7%, cutaneous neurofibromas in 38.4%, plexiform neurofibromas in 24.7%, neurofibrosarcoma in 1.8%, learning disabilities in 39%, attention deficit disorder in 40.5%, osseous dysplasias in 7.2%, pseudoarthrosis in 3.6%, precocious puberty in 3.2% and short stature in 17.9%. Magnetic resonance, when performed, showed hyperintense T2 lesions in 87.1% of cases. The mean period of follow-up was 7.4 years.Conclusion:Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a multisystemic disorder associated with increased risk of malignancy. It can be diagnosed at a very young age and clinical follow-up is advised. To our knowledge, this is the largest single center study of NF-1 in a pediatric population.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqin Yang ◽  
Kaushal Desai ◽  
Neha Agrawal ◽  
Kirti Mirchandani ◽  
Sagnik Chatterjee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-related plexiform neurofibromas (PN) can cause substantial morbidity by disfigurement and compression of vital structures. Real-world data on the burden and cost of disease among pediatric patients with NF1 and PN is limited. The objectives of this study were to describe the characteristics, treatment patterns, healthcare resource use (HCRU), and costs of these patients.Results: A total of 383 patients were included in the retrospective analysis of patients aged ≤18 with at least 1 ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for both NF1 and PN enrolled in the MarketScan® Multistate Medicaid database from October 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017. The mean follow-up was 448 days. The mean age was 11.4 years and 52.0% of patients were male. Most patients were diagnosed by a specialist (63.5%). During the follow-up period, pain medications were used by 58.5% of patients, 25.1% were treated with chemotherapy, 7.1% received surgery for PN, 1.6% received MEK inhibitors, and 0.8% received radiation. Mean per patient per year inpatient, outpatient, emergency room, pharmacy, and other visits were 1.4, 17.3, 1.6, 13.6, and 25.8, respectively. Mean ±SD (median) total per patient per year healthcare costs (2018 USD) were $17,275 ±$61,903 ($2,889), with total medical costs of $14,628 ±$56,203 ($2,334) and pharmacy costs of $2,646 ±$13,303 ($26). Inpatient costs were the largest drivers of medical cost, with a mean per patient per year cost of $6,739.Conclusions: This study showed that many pediatric patients diagnosed with NF1 and PN were treated with supportive care only, highlighting a substantial unmet medical need. This study also highlights the considerable economic burden among patients with NF1 and PN.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-380
Author(s):  
Charlie Bouthors ◽  
Ruben Dukan ◽  
Christophe Glorion ◽  
Lotfi Miladi

OBJECTIVEEarly-onset scoliosis (EOS) is not uncommon in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Despite conservative treatment, spinal deformities progress and require early surgical intervention. To avoid potential interference with chest and trunk growth, growing rods (GRs) have been used effectively in EOS of various etiologies. In this study the authors sought to analyze the outcomes of GRs in EOS patients with NF1.METHODSThis was a retrospective single-center cohort study that included consecutive EOS patients with NF1 who were treated with GRs and were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Clinical and radiological analyses were performed preoperatively and until the last follow-up.RESULTSFrom to 2008 to 2017, 18 patients (6 male, 12 female) underwent GR surgery (14 single GRs, 4 dual GRs) at a mean age of 8 ± 2.1 years. Mean follow-up was 5 ± 2.4 years. Fifty-five lengthenings were performed at a mean rate of 3 lengthenings per patient (range 0–7). Ten of 14 single GRs (71%) were converted into dual GRs during treatment. No patient underwent definitive posterior spinal fusion (PSF) at GR treatment completion. The mean initial and last follow-up major curves were 57° and 36°, respectively (p < 0.001, 37% correction). The average T1–S1 increase was 13 mm/yr. Six of 9 hyperkyphotic patients had normal kyphosis at last follow-up. There were 26 complications involving 13 patients (72%), with 1 patient who required unplanned revision. The primary complications were instrumentation related, consisting of 17 proximal hook dislodgments, 6 distal pedicle screw pullouts, and 2 rod fractures. Only 1 patient experienced a mechanical complication after dual GR implantation. There were no wound infections.CONCLUSIONSThe GR technique provided satisfactory spinal deformity control in EOS patients with NF1 while allowing substantial spinal growth. Adequately contoured dual GRs with proximal hooks placed in nondystrophic regions should be used to minimize implant-related complications. Surgeons should not attempt to correct kyphosis at GR implantation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ang Deng ◽  
Hong-Qi Zhang ◽  
Ming-Xing Tang ◽  
Shao-Hua Liu ◽  
Yu-Xiang Wang ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of posterior-only surgical correction of dystrophic scoliosis in patients with neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) using a multiple anchor point method (MAPM). METHODS From 2005 to 2014, 31 patients (mean age 13.5 years old, range 10–22 years old) suffering from dystrophic scoliosis associated with NF1 underwent posterior-only surgical correction using a MAPM. The apex of the deformity was thoracic (n = 25), thoracolumbar (n = 4), and lumbar (n = 2). The mean preoperative coronal Cobb angle was 69.1° (range 48.9°–91.4°). The mean Cobb angle on the side-bending radiograph of the convex side was 58.2° (range 40°–79.8°). The mean flexibility and apical vertebral rotation (AVR) were 15.6% (range 8.3%–28.2%) and 2.5° (range 2°–3°), respectively. The mean angle of sagittal kyphosis was 58.3° (range 34.1°–79.6°). RESULTS The mean follow-up period was 53 months (range 12–96 months). The mean postoperative coronal Cobb angle was 27.4° (range 16.3°–46.7°). Postoperatively, the mean AVR and angle of sagittal kyphosis were 1.2° (range 1°–2°) and 22.4° (range 4.2°–36.3°), respectively. All patients showed good correction of all indices postoperatively. The mean postoperative correction rate was 58.7% (range 46.3%–74.1%). At the final follow-up evaluation, the corrective loss rate of the Cobb angle was only 2.3%. Only 1 patient required revision surgery. No severe complications such as spinal cord, neural, or large vascular injury occurred during the operation. CONCLUSIONS Posterior-only surgical correction of dystrophic scoliosis in patients with NF1 using a MAPM could yield satisfactory clinical efficacy of correction and fusion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ejerskov ◽  
M. Raundahl ◽  
P. A. Gregersen ◽  
M. M. Handrup

Abstract Background The mosaic form of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is called mosaic NF1 (MNF1). No specific MNF1 follow-up guidelines exist. It is debatable if patients with MNF1 should be clinically examined and undergo follow-up in accordance with the standard NF1 guidelines, as MNF1 patients more often may develop more benign phenotypes and thereby less disease-associated complications including cognitive impairment. We discussed the need for a specific MNF1 follow-up guideline with focus on frequency of plexiform neurofibromas and NF1-associated complications. Method A systematic retrospective data collection in a MNF1 cohort from one of two Danish national centers of NF1 Expertise was completed. Data collected included demographics, clinical features including NF1 diagnostic criteria and NF1-associated complications. Recent literature in the field was reviewed. Results We identified 17 patients with MNF1 with a median age of 37 years [4; 66]. Eleven (65%) were females. Five patients (30%) had a plexiform neurofibroma. The median age at detection of plexiform neurofibroma was 30 years [14; 60]. Nine (53%) had at least one NF1-related complication; scoliosis, hypertension, ADHD, learning disability, language delay, autism and delay in gross and fine motor function development. We reviewed nine articles. In total, 126 cases were described within three case-series. Nineteen (15%) had a plexiform neurofibroma and in total, 23 NF1-associated complications were reported including language delay, learning disability and skeletal abnormalities. Furthermore, from the literature it was evident that the diagnosing of MNF1 varies among physicians and across countries. Conclusion Patients with MNF1 present with plexiform neurofibromas and other NF1-related complications with a frequency requiring that follow-up of MNF1 patients should be in accordance with the standard NF1 guideline in both childhood and adulthood. Physicians should be aware of cognitive impairment as a complication to MNF1. To develop a specific MNF1 follow-up guideline, there is a need for an international consensus on the diagnostic criteria for MNF1 and a follow-up study conducted in a larger MNF1 cohort.


1994 ◽  
Vol 25 (06) ◽  
pp. 295-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ch. Kuenzle ◽  
M. Weissert ◽  
E. Roulet ◽  
H. Bode ◽  
S. Schefer ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilie Ejerskov ◽  
Maj Raundahl ◽  
Pernille Axel Gregersen ◽  
Mette Møller Handrup

Abstract BackgroundThe mosaic form of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is called mosaic NF1 (MNF1). No specific MNF1 follow-up guidelines exist. It is debatable if patients with MNF1 should be clinically examined and undergo follow-up in accordance with the standard NF1 guidelines, as MNF1 patients more often may develop more benign phenotypes and thereby less disease-associated complications including cognitive impairment. We discussed the need for a specific MNF1 follow-up guideline with focus on frequency of plexiform neurofibromas and NF1-associated complications.MethodA systematic retrospective data collection in a MNF1 cohort from one of two Danish national centers of NF1 Expertise was completed. Data collected included demographics, clinical features including NF1 diagnostic criteria and NF1-associated complications. Recent literature in the field was reviewed.ResultsWe identified 17 patients with MNF1 with a median age of 37 years [4; 66]. Eleven (65%) were females. Five patients (30%) had a plexiform neurofibroma. The median age at detection of plexiform neurofibroma was 30 years [14; 60]. Nine (53%) had at least one NF1-related complication; scoliosis, hypertension, ADHD, learning disability, language delay, autism and delay in gross and fine motor function development. We reviewed nine articles. In total, 126 cases were described within three case-series. Nineteen (15%) had a plexiform neurofibroma and in total, 23 NF1-associated complications were reported including language delay, learning disability and skeletal abnormalities. Furthermore, from the literature it was evident that the diagnosing of MNF1 varies among physicians and across countries. ConclusionPatients with MNF1 present with plexiform neurofibromas and other NF1-related complications with a frequency requiring that follow-up of MNF1 patients should be in accordance with the standard NF1 guideline in both childhood and adulthood. Physicians should be aware of cognitive impairment as a complication to MNF1. To develop a specific MNF1 follow-up guideline, there is a need for an international consensus on the diagnostic criteria for MNF1 and a follow-up study conducted in a larger MNF1 cohort.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (149) ◽  
pp. 180053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne-Marie Jutant ◽  
Barbara Girerd ◽  
Xavier Jaïs ◽  
Laurent Savale ◽  
Caroline O'Connell ◽  
...  

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), also known as von Recklinghausen disease, is a frequent autosomal dominant genetic disorder with a prevalence of 1 in 3000. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with NF1 (PH-NF1) is a rare but severe complication of NF1 and is classified as Group 5 PH, defined as “PH with unclear and/or multifactorial mechanisms”. A literature review in PubMed on the association between NF1 and PH identified 18 articles describing 31 cases. PH-NF1 was characterised by a female predominance, an advanced age at diagnosis, an association with parenchymal lung disease in two out of three cases and poor long-term prognosis. NF1 is generally associated with interstitial lung disease but some cases of severe PH without parenchymal lung disease suggest that there could be a specific pulmonary vascular disease. There is no data available on the efficacy of specific pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment in PH-NF1. Therefore, these patients should be evaluated in expert PH centres and referred for lung transplantation at an early stage. As these patients have an increased risk of malignancy, careful assessment of the post-transplant malignancy risk prior to listing for transplantation is necessary. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate promising treatments targeting the RAS-downstream signalling pathways.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi176-vi176
Author(s):  
Ina Ly ◽  
Raquel Thalheimer ◽  
Wenli Cai ◽  
Miriam Bredella ◽  
Vanessa Merker ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Neurofibromas affect 40–50% of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. They grow more rapidly during childhood and adolescence but studies in adults are limited by their retrospective nature and follow-up time < 3 years. The long-term natural history of neurofibromas remains unknown. No guidelines exist on the need and frequency of surveillance imaging for patients. Whole-body MRI (WBMRI) can detect whole-body tumor burden, including internal neurofibromas. METHODS 17 adult NF1 patients who underwent WBMRI between 2007–2010 (Scan 1) underwent repeat WBMRI between 2018–2019 (Scan 2). Internal neurofibromas were segmented on short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequences and tumor volume was calculated using a computerized volumetry and three-dimensional segmentation software. Circumscribed tumors were defined as discrete; invasive tumors or those involving multiple nerves were defined as plexiform. Tumor growth and shrinkage were defined as volume change ≥ 20% over the entire study period. RESULTS Median patient age was 43 years during Scan 1 and 53 years during Scan 2. Median time between Scan 1 and 2 was 9 years. A total of 140 neurofibromas were assessed. 24% of tumors grew by a median 63% (6.8% per year). 54% of tumors spontaneously decreased in volume by a median 60% (7% per year) without treatment. On a per-patient basis, 18% of patients had overall tumor growth and 41% overall tumor shrinkage. 8 new tumors developed in 7 patients. 16 tumors resolved entirely without medical or surgical intervention. Growth behavior did not correlate with discrete or plexiform morphology. CONCLUSION A subset of internal neurofibromas in adult NF1 patients grow significantly over a long-term period, suggesting that continued monitoring of these patients may be warranted. Surprisingly, more than half of neurofibromas shrink spontaneously without intervention. Continued patient enrollment and correlation of imaging findings with functional outcomes are underway.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. e228170 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Ritchie Gill ◽  
Tamer Magid EL Nakhal ◽  
Soo-Mi Park ◽  
Mariusz Chomicki

We report the management of a pathological fracture through a proximal tibial non-ossifying fibroma (NOF) in a 13-year-old girl with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). The fracture was minimally displaced, and the lesion had clinical features of a NOF, and therefore biopsy was not required. Operative fixation has been the preferred method of treatment for pathological fractures through NOF associated with NF1. Multiple NOFs associated with NF1 are rare but can coalesce resulting in large lesions with an increased risk of pathological fracture. In cases which permit, non-operative treatment with cast immobilisation can yield satisfactory results.


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