Abdominal involvement in neurofibromatosis 1: sonographic findings.

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) has been studied from many viewpoints, but its abdominal involvement has rarely been reported. Sonography (US) is now the initial diagnostic tool for abdominal exploration, which prompted us to determine the clinical manifestations and US findings of abdominal involvement in NF1.

METHODS: We analyzed the US findings and clinical data of eight NF1 cases with abdominal involvement.

RESULTS: Abdominal involvement included neurofibromatous tumor growth in the liver, mesentery, and retroperitoneum, in addition to mesenteric leiomyomatosis and gastric carcinoma. Color Doppler US was useful not only in detecting blood flows in the lesions but also in preventing hazardous vascular injury during tumor biopsy.

CONCLUSION: A better understanding of the clinical manifestations and US findings of abdominal involvement in NF1 translates into improved NF1 patient care.