title: Computed tomography (CT) findings in 88 neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) patients: Prevalence rates and correlations of thoracic findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence rates and the correlations of thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings of neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) in 88 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chest CT images of 88 NF1 patients were independently reviewed by three observers, and the CT findings were evaluated. If abnormal findings were present, their number, size, and distribution were recorded. The prevalence rate of each CT finding was calculated, and the correlations between CT findings were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 88 cases, 13 were positive for cysts, 16 for emphysema, 8 for nodules, 8 for GGNs (ground glass nodules), 13 for mediastinal masses, 20 for scoliosis, 44 for subcutaneous nodules, and 34 for skin nodules. Cysts showed upper and peripheral dominant distributions. Regarding 13 mediastinal masses, 2 were diagnosed as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), 1 was diagnosed as primary lung cancer, 2 were diagnosed as lateral meningocele, 3 were diagnosed as neurofibromas, and the remaining 7 were considered neurofibromas. There was a significant correlation between the prevalence of subcutaneous nodules and that of skin nodules. Significant positive correlations were also seen between size and number, size and rate of central distribution, and number and rate of central distribution of cysts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various CT findings were found in NF-1 patients, and the prevalence rates of subcutaneous and skin nodules were higher than other findings. Though the prevalence rates of subcutaneous nodules and skin nodules were significantly correlated, the other CT findings in NF-1 occurred independently. The number, size, and distribution of the cysts showed significant positive correlations with each other.
authors: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. Electronic address: k-ueda@radiol.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Ueda
authors: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Honda
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Japan.
authors: Yukihisa
authors: Y
authors: Satoh
authors: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Misa
authors: M
authors: Kawai
authors: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Gyobu
authors: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Kanazawa
authors: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Shojiro
authors: S
authors: Hidaka
authors: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Yanagawa
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Japan.
authors: Hiromitsu
authors: H
authors: Sumikawa
authors: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Noriyuki
authors: N
authors: Tomiyama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015588:Observer Variation; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CT; Lung; Mediastinum; Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)