Retropharyngeal masses in neurofibromatosis type 1: Imaging findings in 2 cases

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) affects mesenchymal development via multisystemic manifestations. We present 2 cases of NF-1 that manifested as a retropharyngeal mass-1 as a lateral cervical meningocele in a 60-year-old man and the other as a focal neurofibroma in a 37-year-old man. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was invaluable in identifying the exact nature of the 2 lesions; no contrast enhancement was seen in the case of the meningocele, and enhancement was seen in the case of the neurofibroma. These 2 cases illustrate the importance of the history and contrast-enhanced MRI in managing NF-1 patients with a retropharyngeal mass.