Skeletal lesions in von Recklinghausen's disease of the head and neck in Nigerian Africans

A study of skeletal lesions in the head and neck region of 20 adult patients with von Recklinghausen's disease, seen in the Surgical Out Patient clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital from 1979 to 1985, has been carried out. Among the 20 patients, 13 (65 per cent) had symptoms related to...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of laryngology and otology Vol. 100; no. 7; p. 823
Main Authors:	Ijaduola, G T, Ademiluyi, S A, Olarenwaju, D A
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England 01-07-1986
Subjects:	Choristoma - diagnostic imaging Facial Bones - diagnostic imaging Humans Neck - diagnostic imaging Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica - diagnostic imaging Radiography Skull - diagnostic imaging Sphenoid Bone - diagnostic imaging
Online Access:	Get more information
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	A study of skeletal lesions in the head and neck region of 20 adult patients with von Recklinghausen's disease, seen in the Surgical Out Patient clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital from 1979 to 1985, has been carried out. Among the 20 patients, 13 (65 per cent) had symptoms related to the head and neck while 7 (37 per cent) did not; however, on radiological screening, all of them were observed to have skeletal lesions. The commonest feature was enlarged intervertebral nerve root exit foramina from mesodermal dysplasia, which occurred in 16 (80 per cent) of our patients. Other major findings were erosion of the mandible, 8 (40 per cent); erosion of the wings of the sphenoid, 4 (20 per cent); poor mastoid bone pneumatisation, 3 (15 per cent); erosion of the parietal bone, 3 (15 per cent) and heterotopic bone formation, 1 (5 per cent). Congenital calvarial defects were not detected. In view of the fact that all our patients showed radiologically detectable skeletal lesions of the head and neck, despite absence of symptoms in 35 per cent, it is advisable that all patients with von Recklinghausen's disease should routinely have radiological screening of this region, to detect early lesions.
ISSN:	0022-2151
DOI:	10.1017/S0022215100100131