[Pathological complications in 46 cases of neurofibromatosis in children (author's transl)]

Pathological type complications associated with 46 cases of neurofibromatosis in children under 12 are reported. It is noted that in 65.2% of the cases there are mental retardation, usually serious. More than 50% (24 cases) had some type of tumoration. All were benign with the exception of a suprarenal neuroblastoma that caused arterial hypertension and histological characteristics of malignancy. Fifteen tumors were located in the optica ways, one in the mediastinum, one in the abdomen, one in the paravertebral area, one which was a craneal plexiform tumor and four of the moluscum pendulum type on the eyelids or in neighbouring regions. Twelve children suffered from some type of seizures (Salaam's spasms, tonic-clonic, myoclonic, atonic and versive). Radiological abnormalities were very frequent in the simple X rays as well as in those in which contrast medium was used. In four cases malformations of the midline were observed, three of which were non-communicating cysts of the septum pellucidum, the other agenesis of the corpus callosum. Neurofibromatosis was further seen associated iwth Bourneville's syndrome, Morquio's syndrome, Batten's type of lipofuscinosis, facial or generalized hemihypertrophia and stenosis of the aqueduct. Heredity was dominant autosomic in 16 cases, the rest being due to possible recent mutations.