Unexpected diagnosis of superficial neurofibroma in a lesion with imaging features of a vascular malformation.
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.
O'Keefe
Patrick
P
Department of Radiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave., Hb6, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Reid
Janet
J
Morrison
Stuart
S
Vidimos
Allison
A
DiFiore
John
J
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
D005682:Gadolinium