Gliomas presenting after age 10 in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)

Children with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) often develop low-grade gliomas, but brain tumors are infrequently encountered in adults with NF1. The authors present evidence from two clinical series, one including patients known to have NF1 and another focusing on adults with new onset brain tumors, that suggests an association between NF1 and symptomatic gliomas in older individuals. They also summarize the clinical data on 17 adolescents or adults with NF1 and symptomatic gliomas. The findings suggest that individuals with NF1 are at increased risk of developing gliomas throughout their lives.