Neurofibromatosis in Nigerian children

A study of 14 children with multiple neurofibromatosis (Von Recklinghausen's disease) seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital within a 6-year period (1979-85) has been carried out. Eight were boys while six were girls. The youngest was 3 months old. The café-au-lait spots observed in all these children showed poor colour contrast, thus making it not easily discernible in infancy and early diagnosis difficult. They are therefore better called "café-sans-lait" or "blackish brown" spots in the African. Hyperpigmented patches were observed in eight children and multiple grotesque soft tissue swellings in ten others. Prolonged follow-up is mandatory in these patients in order to give them a better quality of life.