title: Spontaneous hemorrhage simulating rapid growth of a benign subperiosteal plexiform neurofibroma.
abstract: Spontaneous subperiosteal hemorrhage is a rare complication of von Recklinghausen's disease. There are few reports describing the MR imaging characteristics of this entity. Our case is unique among these as an underlying plexiform neurofibroma was visualized by MR imaging. We present a 12-year-old child with neurofibromatosis 1 who presented with a rapidly enlarging mass of the fibula. Surgery and pathology revealed subperiosteal hemorrhage into a benign, plexiform neurofibroma. The MR imaging features, pathogenesis and clinical implications of this entity are discussed. Recognition of this disease process and differentiating it from malignant transformation can prevent unnecessary surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, USA. nblitman@montefiore.org
authors.forename: Netta M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Blitman
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Levsky
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villanueva-Siles
authors.forename: Beverly A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Thornhill
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018318:Neurofibroma, Plexiform / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010521:Periosteum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*