Brain MRI analysis of six patients with neurofibromatosis type 1

Abstract

Objective To provide the basis for early diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) through summarizing the characteristics and location of unidentified bright objects (UBOs) on T₂WI in NF1 patients and their correlation with age. Methods and Results Clinical data of 6 patients with NF1 (3 had family history and the others were sporadic cases) from June 2014 to December 2017 were collected and analyzed. All patients were initially presented with café-au-lait spots over the body, among whom 2 patients under 18 years old (14 and 16 years old) both showed multiple abnormal T₂WI UBOs on brain MRI mainly involving thalamus, and presented mental retardation, epileptic seizures and headache. Conclusions T₂WI UBOs were common imaging manifestations in NF1 patients under the age of 18 years, which had implications for the diagnosis of NF1 in young patients.

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2019.03.011