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Unexpected diagnosis of superficial neurofibroma in a lesion with imaging features of a vascular malformation

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Abstract

Plexiform neurofibroma is a pathognomonic, often disabling feature of neurofibromatosis type I. Although the target-like appearance of deep plexiform neurofibroma on T2-weighted MRI has been well-described, a second superficial form of plexiform neurofibroma has differing imaging features. We report a 15-year-old boy who presented with multiple cutaneous lesions exhibiting clinical and imaging characteristics of a venolymphatic malformation. These lesions were histologically proved to represent superficial plexiform neurofibromas. We wish to emphasize the unique MR findings of superficial plexiform neurofibromas; these findings are different from the imaging characteristics of the deep form and can be confused with a low-flow vascular malformation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave., Hb6, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Patrick O’Keefe, Janet Reid & Stuart Morrison

  2. Department of Dermatology , Cleveland Clinic Foundation , Cleveland, OH, USA

    Allison Vidimos

  3. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation , Cleveland, OH, USA

    John DiFiore

Authors
  1. Patrick O’Keefe
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  2. Janet Reid
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  3. Stuart Morrison
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  4. Allison Vidimos
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  5. John DiFiore
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Janet Reid.

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O’Keefe, P., Reid, J., Morrison, S. et al. Unexpected diagnosis of superficial neurofibroma in a lesion with imaging features of a vascular malformation. Pediatr Radiol 35, 1250–1253 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-005-1565-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-005-1565-9

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