[Nuclear magnetic resonance tomography follow-up in rapidly progressing central neurofibromatosis]

The rapidly progressing deficits of a patient with known central neurofibromatosis (NF) led to a MRI control scan. Contrary to the previous non-enhanced examinations we now saw multiple cerebral and spinal tumors, whose localisation and extension made surgical removal impossible. Gadolinium enhanced MRI is extremely useful in diagnosing and defining the extent of intracranial and intraspinal lesions, does not involve radiation exposure and should therefore be recommended generously in follow-up patients with known NF. This is the only feasible way to allow an early careful surgical removal of the tumors before reaching a point of no return.