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Neurofibromatosis Type 1 associated with vitiligo and left
occipital bone defect
I Bukhari, F Al Mulhim
Citation
I Bukhari, F Al Mulhim. Neurofibromatosis Type 1 associated with vitiligo and left occipital bone defect. The Internet
Journal of Dermatology. 2006 Volume 6 Number 1.
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a neurocutaneous disorder with variable clinical expression spectrum. Major clinical features
include pigmentary changes, central nervous system tumors, bony dysplasias and ophthalmic features. In this report we
document the first case in the literature of NF1 associated with vitiligo and unusual bony defect.
INTRODUCTION
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant
neurocutaneous disorder which affects tissues derived from
the neural crest.
1
Clinically it is characterized by neural
tumors, cafe-au-lait spots, intertiginous freckling, Lisch
nodules and skeletal defects including scoliosis, sphenoid
wing dysplasia, bony distortion and local cystic and erosive
changes.
2
In this paper we present the first case in the
literature of NF-1 associated with vitiligo and partial absence
of left occipital bone.
CASE REPORT
A 25-year-old Saudi female and a known case of
neurofibromatosis type 1 since childhood presented to our
dermatology clinic at King Fahad Hospital of the University
in AlKhobar, Saudi Arabia with generalized depigmented
patches of four years duration. Clinical examination of the
skin revealed the presence of depigmented lesions affecting
the upper and lower extremities, axillary freckling, cafe-au-
lait spots and multiple plexiform neurofibromas affecting the
trunk and the upper and lower extremeties (figure 1). An
ophthalmic examination revealed the presence of lish
nodules. Family history was positive for neurofibromatosis
(her sister and grand mother affected). Radiological
evaluation for the head and spine using CT scan and MRI
revealed Left occipital bony defect replaced by fibrous
membrane with adjacent isodense soft tissue mass lesion
(figure 2,3). So we diagnosed the patient as a case of NF
type 1 associated with vitiligo and partial absence of left
occipital bone.
Figure 1
Figure 1: Depigmented patches with obvious freckling and
café au lait lesions affecting the upper arm of the patient.