Neurofibromatosis type I presenting with urinary retention and lung collapse

A 26-year-old male presented with urinary retention, spastic paraparesis and a swelling in the right side of the neck. Urinary retention was due to a neurofibroma of a lumbar spinal root compressing the urinary bladder and right ureter retroperitoneally. Paraparesis was due to an intraspinal neurofibroma causing cord compression at the cervicodorsal junction. In addition, this tumour was contiguous with the mass in the neck, and also with another large mass in the right hemithorax which was causing collapse of the right lung.