title: Spontaneous involution of optic pathway lesions in neurofibromatosis type 1: serial contrast MR evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate with contrast MR the evolution in size, signal, and contrast enhancement of optic pathway lesions in four patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  The four reported patients are children with ages ranging from 21 months to 13 years affected by neurofibromatosis type 1 and optic pathway lesions. No treatment of the optic pathway lesions was carried out in these patients. They have been followed by serial contrast MR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all patients a change in size, signal, and enhancement of optic pathways lesions was noted with time, and in the last follow-up study a marked reduction in size and enhancement of optic pathway lesions was observed in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modification and regression of optic pathway lesions with spontaneous disappearance of the enhancement is demonstrated. This finding could have a crucial influence on the therapeutic approach of the optic pathway lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Scientific Institute H.S. Raffaele, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parazzini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Triulzi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agnetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanolini
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Maninetti
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA