Clinical spectrum of neurofibromatosis type 1 among children in a tertiary care center
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* Fahad A. Bashiri
* Lama R. AlZamil
* Rawan A. Aldhuwayhi

## Abstract

**Objectives:** To identify the clinical and neuroradiological features of neurofibromatosis type 1 and the risk of malignancy in a pediatric age group.

**Methods:** This observational retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 who were seen and had follow up from January 2000 to January 2019.

**Results:** A total of 50 children were included. Approximately 90% of patients presented with café-au-lait macules, and 34% had skin-fold freckling. Moreover, 42% of the participants had a first-degree relative with neurofibromatosis type 1, and about a quarter presented with associated epilepsy. About 90% of the neuroradiological features were consistent with those of neurofibromatosis type 1. About 52% of the patients had one or multiple types of tumors, and 34% presented with optic pathway glioma.

**Conclusion:** This study described clinical spectrum of neurofibromatosis type 1 among children. It showed also a higher percentage of tumors than previous studies.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder, that affects 1 in 3500 people worldwide.1 The NF1 is a complex disorder involving multiple body systems, such as the integumentary, visual, skeletal, and central nervous system (CNS); hence, it has different clinical manifestations. This condition is mainly characterized by cutaneous pigmented spots referred to as cafe-au-lait macules.2 The diagnosis of NF1 is mainly based on the criteria established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1988.3 Based on these criteria, patients are diagnosed with NF1 if they meet ≥2 of the following criteria: 6 or more cafe-au-lait macules with a diameter measuring >5 mm in prepubertal individuals and >15 mm in postpubertal individuals, 2 or more neurofibromas of any type or one plexiform neurofibroma, axillary or inguinal freckling (Crowe’s sign), optic pathway glioma (OPG), 2 or more Lisch nodules, dysplasia of the sphenoid wing or thinning of the long bone cortex (-/+ pseudarthrosis), and a first-degree relative with NF1 fulfilling the above mentioned criteria. The diagnostic criteria were revised in 1997 and were continuously used without modifications.4 Moreover, patients with NF1 have a higher risk of malignancies than individuals in the general population, with an estimated prevalence of 5%, and these malignancies are usually detected during childhood.1

There are no available data on the radiologic features and the signs and symptoms at the time of clinical presentation, which are essential for the clinical knowledge of physicians in identifying patients with such condition. In addition, there is a lack of information about clinical outcomes, including the risk of malignancy, among patients with NF1. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the different clinical manifestations and the radiological features of NF1 among pediatric patients. Moreover, the outcomes, which are essential for urgent interventions that can improve life expectancy, were assessed.

## Methods

### Study setting

This was an observational retrospective cohort study. The data were extracted from the electronic medical records and the paper records at King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The files of the patients were reviewed from January 2000 to January 2019. The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board of the College of Medicine, King Saud University (E19-3826). The inclusion criteria of the study were as follows: aged ≤ 18 years and individuals who fulfilled ≥2 of the diagnostic criteria for NF1, which include 6 or more cafe-au-lait macules with the greatest diameter measuring >5 mm in prepubertal individuals and >15 mm in postpubertal individuals, 2 or more neurofibromas of any type or one plexiform neurofibroma, axillary or inguinal freckling, OPG, 2 or more Lisch nodules, dysplasia of the sphenoid wing or thinning of the long bone cortex (-/+ pseudarthrosis), and a first-degree relative with NF1. The primary outcome measures were the different clinical manifestations and radiological features of NF1 and the percentage risk of malignancy.

The data collection form comprised demographic data, clinical examination findings, including skin assessment results, head circumference, and blood pressure, diagnostic criteria of NF1, other associated signs and symptoms of NF1, radiological features, and types of tumors identified. The anonymized data in this study were collected from the medical records; therefore, the need for informed patient consent was waived.

### Statistical analysis

The mean and standard deviation were used to describe the continuous variables, and the frequencies and percentages were used to describe the categorical variables. There were patients who presented with one or multiple symptoms. Thus, a multiple response dichotomy analysis was performed to describe the prevalence of the signs and symptoms as well as the diagnostic criteria and other (tick-all-that applies) measured characteristics and to identify the applicable diagnostic criteria for each patient. The case summary procedure in the analytical program was used to generate a case summary table showing the detailed information associated with the disease and its outcomes

## Results

### Demographic characteristics of the participants

A total of 50 patients met the inclusion criteria of the study. Among them, 26 (52%) were male and 24 (48%) were female; the mean age was 11 years-old (range: 1-18). The mean age at presentation to the diagnosis of NF1 was 4.5 years. All 50 patients fulfilled 2 or more of the NIH criteria for the diagnosis of NF1, with a mean of 3 diagnostic criteria per patient. The multiple response dichotomy analysis results for the NIH diagnostic criteria observed in our cohort are shown in Table 1. Approximately 90% of the patients presented with café-au-lait macules, and 34% had skin-fold freckling, which was commonly observed in the axilla, and OPG. In addition, 42% had first-degree relatives with NF1, which were mostly siblings and fathers.

View this table:
[Table 1](http://nsj.org.sa/content/25/5/375/T1)

Table 1 
Descriptive statistics of the diagnostic criteria for NF1 (n=50).

As shown in Table 2, signs and symptoms other than those included in the NIH diagnostic criteria were found among patients with NF1. The multiple response dichotomy analysis revealed that 27.3% of the children presented with congenital or idiopathic scoliosis and 21.2% with epilepsy. In 29% of patients with epilepsy, the condition was controlled with a single medication, and 71% were on multiple antiseizure medications. Neurofibromatosis-Noonan syndrome was observed in 2 patients. Headache was only found in 15% of the children, and 2 patients were diagnosed with migraine.

View this table:
[Table 2](http://nsj.org.sa/content/25/5/375/T2)

Table 2 
Associated signs and symptoms of NF1 (n=33).

### Neuroradiological features

Eleven (22%) patients underwent brain computed tomography (CT) scan. Approximately 63% of these patients presented with an abnormality on imaging, which is consistent with the diagnosis of NF1. However, only 6% underwent follow-up CT scan, with a mean number of 1.67 (SD=0.6). This result showed that these children underwent nearly 2 follow-up CT scans on average. About 36% of children who underwent initial CT scan had normal findings. Furthermore, approximately 92% underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of their evaluation. About 69% of children who underwent brain MRI presented with abnormalities consistent with NF1, and 30% had normal imaging findings. In addition, hyperintensities on T2-weighted images were observed in 65% of the patients. Approximately, 80% of the children underwent follow-up MRI, with a mean number of 2.16 per child (SD=2.21). The neuroradiological features are summarized in Table 3.

View this table:
[Table 3](http://nsj.org.sa/content/25/5/375/T3)

Table 3 
Neuroradiological features.

Medical imaging identified various types of tumors, and the analysis showed that 30 (60%) children presented with one or multiple types of tumor. The analysis of the tumor subtypes showed that 56.5% of the patients had OPG and 52% had bilateral OPG. Moreover, 21% of the patients presented with other nonmalignant tumors, including brain hamartomas, which were observed in 13.3% of the patients. In addition, only 10% of the patients had malignant cranial tumors. The overall risk of cancer in NF1 patients was approximately 60%. The details of these tumors are presented in Table 4. Finally, only 14% of the children required surgical intervention for the management of their tumors.

View this table:
[Table 4](http://nsj.org.sa/content/25/5/375/T4)

Table 4 
Tumor characteristics of pediatric patients with NF1 (n=30).

## Discussion

This study evaluated the different clinical manifestations and neuroradiological features of NF1 among pediatric patients. All patients in this study met the diagnostic criteria for NF1, with a mean of three criteria per patient, and the mean age at presentation was 4 years. The most prominent of the cardinal criteria for NF1 is the presence of café-au-lait macules,2 which was the most prevalent finding in our study, accounting for 90% of the cases. This result is similar to that of a previous study.5,6 Lisch nodules are highly indicative of the disorder.7 Approximately 42% of our patients presented with Lisch nodules, which is similar to that of a previous study.5 Similar to the study of Ste-Justine, approximately 3% of patients presented with hypertension.5 Moreover, 27.3% had scoliosis, and this rate was significantly higher than that of previous studies, with a prevalence rate of 3% and 11%.5,8 Furthermore, 21.2% of patients presented with epilepsy, and this rate is three times higher than that previously reported.5 Two patients had neurofibromatosis-Noonan syndrome, and its association with the condition has been previously described.9,10

The clinical significance of NF1 is that different benign and malignant tumors can develop; therefore, this condition must be diagnosed early in childhood to identify the tumors and improve the outcomes. Most tumors in NF1 arise from the nervous system. However, NF1 was found to have an increased relative risk for tumors outside the nervous system.11 Neurofibroma are considered a hallmark of NF1, and they are benign nerve sheath tumor arising from non-myelinating Schwann cells. They usually present as cutaneous or subcutaneous nodules of varying sizes which can develop anywhere in the body. They are rarely observed in children and usually develop at puberty and are more likely to accumulate with age.12 Cutaneous neurofibromas are not at risk of malignant transformation unlike plexiform neurofibromas. However, due to disfigurement and minor discomfort, patients often request to have these tumors resected. By contrast, plexiform neurofibromas involve multiple nerve fascicles, which are usually congenital. They can undergo malignant transformation and develop to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), with a lifetime risk of 8%-13% in NF1 patients. However, its incidence is rare in the general population.13,14 Therefore, plexiform neurofibromas are considered pathognomonic for NF1.

In addition, the malignant transformation of plexiform neurofibromas is not common during childhood; however, it can occur in adolescents.15 Approximately 24% of the patients in this cohort presented with at least one plexiform neurofibroma; this finding is similar to that of previous studies.10,16 However, the incidence of neurofibromas was significantly lower in our study than in other studies. This result is probably attributed to the fact that our cohort was younger. Hence, none of the patients presented with MPNSTs.

Furthermore, the incidence of gliomas is higher among patients with NF1, and these tumors predominately comprise low-grade pilocytic astrocytomas, which can develop in any part of the brain and spinal cord. However, they commonly involve the optic pathways, brainstem, and cerebellum.17,11 The OPG is the most common type of brain tumor associated with NF1; it is usually observed in children aged <7 years, with an estimated prevalence rate of 15%–20%.18,19 Despite this finding, OPG in childhood is usually indolent and rarely symptomatic and is often detected via routine screening. However, some patients can develop loss of vision, severe proptosis, hydrocephalus, and precocious puberty.18 The prevalence of OPG in our study was significantly higher than that in previous studies. A previous study by Boulanger and Larbrisseau et al. compared five different cohorts with NF1 (including that in their study) and reported that the prevalence rate of OPG ranged from 4% to 19%.

However, compared to our study, OPG had a significantly higher prevalence rate at 56.6% in a previous study.5 Moreover, other intracranial gliomas are common in NF1, and most of them are low-grade gliomas. However, high-grade gliomas can be observed as well.1 The second most common brain tumors in NF1 are brainstem gliomas, accounting for 18% of all NF1CNS tumors.20 Unlike the sporadic cases of OPG and brainstem gliomas, these tumors, which are associated with NF1, are more likely to be less aggressive, and several patients are asymptomatic. Therefore, the course is more favorable in this population than in the general population.18,20,21 In addition, tumors of the posterior fossa and cerebral hemispheres are not common in NF1 and are more likely to occur at an estimated rate of 1% and 0.83%.22 In this study, two patients presented with brain astrocytoma, which is located in the frontal lobe and posterior fossa. Other rare malignant tumors associated with NF1 include medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.1 However, these tumors were not observed in the current study. The frequency rate of malignancy in this study was similar to that in previous studies (10% and 5%-29%).23

The limitations of the study are the retrospective design, and the relatively small sample size.

In conclusions, this study evaluated the different clinical manifestations and neuroradiological features of NF1 among children. The prevalence of OPG, scoliosis, and epilepsy was higher. Hence, a large multicenter study should be conducted to predict the clinical course of this disorder in the pediatric age group.

## Acknowledgements

This research project was supported by a grant from the “Research Center of the Female Scientific and Medical Colleges”, Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University. And we would like to thank Editage ([www.editage.com](http://www.editage.com)) for English language editing.

## Footnotes

*   **Disclosure.** Authors have no conflict of interests, and the work was not supported or funded by any drug company.

*   Received May 21, 2020.
*   Accepted June 30, 2020.


*   Copyright: © Neurosciences

Neurosciences is an Open Access journal and articles published are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (CC BY-NC). Readers may copy, distribute, and display the work for non-commercial purposes with the proper citation of the original work.

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