Cervical spine abnormalities in neurofibromatosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Orthopedics
• Radiology

Background:

• Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that can affect the spine.
• Cervical spine abnormalities are a potential complication of neurofibromatosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of cervical spine lesions in patients with neurofibromatosis.
• To assess the association between spinal deformities and cervical lesions in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 56 patients diagnosed with neurofibromatosis.
• Radiographic examination of the cervical spine.
• Correlation analysis between neurofibromatosis, scoliosis/kyphoscoliosis, and cervical spine lesions.

Main Results:

• Seventeen out of 56 neurofibromatosis patients (30%) exhibited cervical spine lesions.
• Among 34 patients with scoliosis or kyphoscoliosis, 15 (44%) had concurrent cervical lesions.
• A significant number of patients with cervical lesions were asymptomatic.

Conclusions:

• Cervical spine abnormalities are common in neurofibromatosis patients, often without symptoms.
• Pre-operative roentgenographic evaluation of the cervical spine is crucial for neurofibromatosis patients.
• This screening is particularly important for patients requiring general anesthesia or skull traction for scoliosis management.