title: Bilateral diaphragm paralysis secondary to central von Recklinghausen's disease.
abstract: Bilateral paralysis of the diaphragm is either idiopathic or associated with several medical conditions, including trauma or thoracic surgery, viral infections, and neurologic congenital or degenerative disorders. We describe the case of a 36-year-old man with a history of neurofibromatosis who developed severe bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis from involvement of the phrenic nerve roots with neurofibromas. The patient manifested progressive exertional dyspnea and debilitating orthopnea requiring the use of noninvasive mechanical ventilation at night. A review of the literature reveals that neurofibromatosis is an unrecognized cause of diaphragmatic paralysis.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Department of Medicine, New England Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA. paul.hassoun@es.nemc.org
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hassoun
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Celli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000294:innervation; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed