OBJECTIVES: To define the frequency and clinical features of plexiform neurofibromas (PN) in children with neurofibromatosis type 1. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-five children received whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical-neurologic examination. Tumor sizes were calculated volumetrically with the program MedX v3.42. χ(2) test, Fisher exact test, t test, and Spearman rank correlation were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-three tumors were detected in 37 of these 65 children. The mean volume of the tumors was 145.4 mL or 4.8 mL/kg body weight. Eighteen of the 73 PNs caused clinical deficits in 17 children, and the other 56 PNs in 20 children were asymptomatic. Symptomatic tumors were larger than asymptomatic ones (9.6 vs 3.3 mL/kg body weight; P = .01). However, in certain body regions, for example, the head, small tumors also caused clinical deficits. Ten of 18 children ≥11.5 years (median age of the 37 children with PNs) had symptomatic PNs compared with 7 of 19 who were <11.5 years (P = .25). CONCLUSION: PNs cause clinical deficits in young children. Early detection and regular MRI monitoring help to estimate growth and possible upcoming complications, and are thus beneficial for optimizing treatment and management.
OBJECTIVES: To define the frequency and clinical features of plexiform neurofibromas (PN) in children with neurofibromatosis type 1. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-five children received whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical-neurologic examination. Tumor sizes were calculated volumetrically with the program MedX v3.42. χ(2) test, Fisher exact test, t test, and Spearman rank correlation were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-three tumors were detected in 37 of these 65 children. The mean volume of the tumors was 145.4 mL or 4.8 mL/kg body weight. Eighteen of the 73 PNs caused clinical deficits in 17 children, and the other 56 PNs in 20 children were asymptomatic. Symptomatic tumors were larger than asymptomatic ones (9.6 vs 3.3 mL/kg body weight; P = .01). However, in certain body regions, for example, the head, small tumors also caused clinical deficits. Ten of 18 children ≥11.5 years (median age of the 37 children with PNs) had symptomatic PNs compared with 7 of 19 who were <11.5 years (P = .25). CONCLUSION: PNs cause clinical deficits in young children. Early detection and regular MRI monitoring help to estimate growth and possible upcoming complications, and are thus beneficial for optimizing treatment and management.
Authors: Brigitte C Widemann; Dusica Babovic-Vuksanovic; Eva Dombi; Pamela L Wolters; Stewart Goldman; Staci Martin; Anne Goodwin; Wendy Goodspeed; Mark W Kieran; Bruce Cohen; Susan M Blaney; Allison King; Jeffrey Solomon; Nicholas Patronas; Frank M Balis; Elizabeth Fox; Seth M Steinberg; Roger J Packer Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2014-04-22 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Pamela L Wolters; Staci Martin; Vanessa L Merker; James H Tonsgard; Sondra E Solomon; Andrea Baldwin; Amanda L Bergner; Karin Walsh; Heather L Thompson; Kathy L Gardner; Cynthia M Hingtgen; Elizabeth Schorry; William N Dudley; Barbara Franklin Journal: Neurology Date: 2016-08-16 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Scott R Plotkin; Stephanie D Davis; Kent A Robertson; Srivandana Akshintala; Julian Allen; Michael J Fisher; Jaishri O Blakeley; Brigitte C Widemann; Rosalie E Ferner; Carole L Marcus Journal: Neurology Date: 2016-08-16 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Robert A Avery; Eva Dombi; Kelly A Hutcheson; Maria T Acosta; Andrea M Baldwin; William P Madigan; Andrea Gillespie; Edmond J Fitzgibbon; Roger J Packer; Brigitte C Widemann Journal: Am J Ophthalmol Date: 2013-02-26 Impact factor: 5.258