title: Unexpected diagnosis of superficial neurofibroma in a lesion with imaging features of a vascular malformation.
abstract: Plexiform neurofibroma is a pathognomonic, often disabling feature of neurofibromatosis type I. Although the target-like appearance of deep plexiform neurofibroma on T2-weighted MRI has been well-described, a second superficial form of plexiform neurofibroma has differing imaging features. We report a 15-year-old boy who presented with multiple cutaneous lesions exhibiting clinical and imaging characteristics of a venolymphatic malformation. These lesions were histologically proved to represent superficial plexiform neurofibromas. We wish to emphasize the unique MR findings of superficial plexiform neurofibromas; these findings are different from the imaging characteristics of the deep form and can be confused with a low-flow vascular malformation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave., Hb6, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidimos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DiFiore
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005121:Extremities / Q000473:pathology*; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis; D018318:Neurofibroma, Plexiform / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D013848:Thigh / Q000473:pathology; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D005682:Gadolinium