Segmental neurofibromatosis (SN) or type V Neurofibromatosis is a genodermatos most often characterized by the presence of
neurofibromas, more rarely café au lait spots, and sometimes lentigines limited to a limited body region. We report two Moroccan
cases of true Segmental Neurofibromatosis with only pigmented lesions.
Keywords: Segmental Neurofibromatosis; Type V Neurofibromatosis; Café au lait spots; Neurofibromas; Lentigines
Segmental neurofibromatosis (SN) or type V Neurofibromatosis
is a genodermatos most often characterized by the presence of
neurofibromas, more rarely café au lait spots, and sometimes
lentigines limited to a limited body region, or more rarely on several
bilateral segments. It is exceptional, with an estimated prevalence
between 0.0014-0.002%. We report two Moroccan cases of SN.
Clinical case
Observation N 1: A 10-year-old boy, with no family history
of Neurofibromatosis (NF), who has had numerous café-au-lait
spots and lentigines at the left lumbar region since the age of 2. No
ophthalmologic and neurological symptoms of neurofibromatosis
were diagnosed. The diagnosis of segmental neurofibromatosis
(NF-5) has therefore been established.
Observation N2: A 35-year-old woman with no concept of
consanguinity, followed in neurology for a multiple sclerosis under
treatment presented with a 25-year history of coffee-milk spots
and lentigines at the right lumbar region.
Comments: The term segmental neurofibromatosis was
introduced by Miller and Sparkes in 1977 [1-2]. Segmental NF1 is
caused by somatic mosaicism due to a postzygotic mutation in the
NF1 gene. This results in some cells containing two normal NF1
genes and other cells having a mutation in one copy of the NF1 gene
[3]. Due to the multiplicity of clinical manifestations of NF, Riccardi
ranked NF in eight categories in 1982. Type V was reserved for the
NS [4-2]. In 1987, [5] Have classified the NS in four variants: true
segmental, Localized with deep evolution, hereditary and bilateral.
Both of our patients had a true NS.
The most common clinical manifestation of NS is: neurofibromas,
and less frequently, coffee-au-lait spots.Clinically, patients can be
divided into four groups: NS with only pigmented lesions, NS with
only neurofibromas, NS with pigmented lesions and neurofibromas,
and NS with isolated plexiform neurofibromas [1,2,4]. Our patients
have only pigmented lesions. Systemic involvement in NS is rare,
except in patients with plexiform neurofibromas. NF I and NS may
be associated with malignant tumors such as peripheral nerve
sheath tumor, melanoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, stomach
cancer, lung cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma [6] (Figures 1 & 2).
Figure 1: Patient 1 : Multiple lentigines and café au lait
spots on the left lumbar region.
Figure 2: Patient 2: Multiple lentigines and café au lait
spots on the right lumbar region.
We present the first two cases of Moroccan SN. The risk of
association with malignant tumors or with systemic involvement
is not confirmed, so patients presenting SN must have a long-term
medical follow-up.