NEUROFIBROMATOSES - Dr LOR Semanalmente: Tema 302 – Manchas típicas e manchas atípicas no diagnóstico da NF1

Improved by Dr. Vincent Riccardi and Dr. Nikolas Mata-Machado.

When a child has two or more criteria for the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), we are almost certain that she has the disease. For example, 6 or more cafe au lait spots (CALMS) and freckles in the axilas, or 6 or more CALMS and Lisch Nodes on their iris, or 6 or CALMS and a plexiform neurofibroma.

However, when the child has only CALMS, we need to examine carefully the characteristics of the spots to find out if they are the spots typically found in NF1 or if they are atypical spots, that is, they are not associated with NF1.

First question: How to characterize the Café-au-lait macule (CALM)?
Typical NF1 CALMS are oval, with well-defined limits, homogeneous color similar to café au lait and located mainly in the trunk (see figure), forming isolated islands. Atypical spots, which are not ordinary for NF1, usually have very variable shapes, their boundaries are poorly defined and can be found anywhere on the body, forming irregularly contoured islands (see figure).

The second question is the size of the spots. The diagnostic criterion for NF1 requires that typical CALMS be more than half a centimeter in childhood and more than 1 cm from adolescence. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish CALMS from the freckles, which are located in places where the sun does not touch, such as the armpits and groin (see figure) and they are a second criterion for the diagnosis of NF1.

Second question: How many CALMs are typical?

There is a direct relationship between the number of typical spots in the first year of life and the chance of other NF1 signs appearing in subsequent years, as shown in a scientific study by Nunley and colleagues published in 2009 (see here www.jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/712161 ). The researchers found that a child with 6 typical spots in the first year of life has a 40% chance of presenting other NF1 signs within the next five years. However, a child with 9 or more typical spots in the first year of life has a 100% chance of having another NF1 sign in the next 5 years of life.

In other words, a large proportion (75%) of children with 6 or more typical CALMS will have their diagnosis of NF1 confirmed by age 6 and for the vast majority (92%) NF1 will be confirmed by age 10 of age.

On the other hand, none of the children presented a diagnosis of NF1 when they had only 1 to 5 CALMS during the study period. In addition, only 5% of the children with atypical spots had NF1 throughout the study.

In summary, up to 3 typical spots, there is probably no associated disease; 3 to 5 spots, we may think of other diseases; 6 or more stains, act as if it were NF1.

Third question: should we do the genetic test in a small child when it only presents only CALMS?

This is a frequent question in our Reference Center because we would all like to know immediately the definitive diagnosis so that we can act accordingly. However, I always evaluate with parents the following: Will the genetic test result change our behavior?

If the test is positive for NF1, our behavior will be to observe the child, and observe for other NF1 elements as the child ages.

If the result of the genetic test for NF1 is negative, our behavior will be to observe the child, who must lead a normal life and reassess clinically each year if there is no news.

Now in this respect the test would not change our conduct.

On the other hand, if the test comes negative we have to think about other diseases that can also cause brown spots with milk (although in most of these other diseases the spots are usually atypical). Legius syndrome, Albright Osteodystrophy, Mastocytosis. Also, some forms of NF1 have very few CALMs (Huson, et al.)

Summary: So we came to your question: what other conditions that can cause CALMS?

First, there are the isolated CALMS that are found in 10% of healthy people. There is also a form of CALM in which several members of a family have a spot, without this being a sign of disease. Finally, it is possible that parent great skin color differences could lead to atypical CALM in their children.

On the other hand, there is a relatively large group of diseases that can cause CALM, usually less than 6 spots and atypical: Neurofibromatosis type 2, Schwannomatosis, Legius Syndrome, Noonan Syndrome, Albright Osteodystrophy.

The differentiation between each of these diseases requires a professional with clinical experience in NF1 and various rare diseases and a summary of their characteristics can be found in our article published in 2013 (see here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24676443 ).

[1] Neste caso, é preciso que o laboratório se certifique de que não houve a deleção do gene, o que poderia causar um resultado falso negativo na análise do gene NF1.

Cafe Au Lait Spots and Diagnosis of NF1

Posted By Diana Haberkamp | On June 13th, 2017

The following is a blog by Dr. Luiz Rodrigues . Originally posted in Portuguese on May 7, 2017. Additions and translation were provided by Dr. Mata-Machado from the NF Clinic at Amita Health/St. Alexis.

When a child has two or more criteria for the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), we are almost certain that she has the disease. For example, 6 or more cafe au lait spots (CALMS) and freckles in the armpits, or 6 or more CALMS and Lisch Nodes on their iris, or 6 or CALMS and a plexiform neurofibroma.

However, when the child has only cafe au lait spots, we need to carefully examine the characteristics of the spots to find out if they are the spots typically found in NF1 or if they are atypical spots, that is, they are not associated with NF1.

First question: How to characterize the Café-au-lait spots(CALM)?
Typical NF1 CALMS are oval, with well-defined limits and uniform color similar to “coffee with milk” and located mainly in the trunk, forming isolated islands. Atypical spots, which are not ordinary for NF1, usually have very variable shapes, their boundaries are poorly defined and can be found anywhere on the body, forming irregularly contoured islands (see figure).

We can also look at the size of the spots. The diagnostic criterion for NF1 requires that typical CALMS be more than half a centimeter in childhood and more than 1 cm from adolescence. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish CALMS from the freckles, which are located in places where the sun does not touch, such as the armpits and groin and they are a second criterion for the diagnosis of NF1.

Second question: How many CALMs are typical?
There is a direct relationship between the number of typical spots in the first year of life and the chance of other NF1 signs appearing in subsequent years, as shown in a scientific study by Nunley and colleagues published in 2009 (see here www.jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/712161 ). The researchers found that a child with 6 typical spots in the first year of life has a 40% chance of presenting other NF1 signs within the next five years. However, a child with 9 or more typical spots in the first year of life has a 100% chance of having another NF1 sign in the next 5 years of life.

In other words, a large proportion (75%) of children with 6 or more typical CALMS will have their diagnosis of NF1 confirmed by age 6 and for the vast majority (92%) NF1 will be confirmed by age 10 of age.

On the other hand, none of the children presented a diagnosis of NF1 when they had only 1 to 5 CALMS during the study period. In addition, only 5% of the children with atypical spots had NF1 throughout the study.

In summary, up to 3 typical spots, there is probably no associated disease; 3 to 5 spots, we may think of other diseases; 6 or more stains, act as if it were NF1.

Third question: Should we do the genetic test in a small child when it only presents only CALMS?

This is a frequent question in our clinic because we would all like to know immediately the definitive diagnosis so that we can act accordingly. However, I always evaluate with parents the following: Will the genetic test result change our behavior?

If the test is positive for NF1, our behavior will be to observe the child, and observe for other NF1 elements as the child ages.

If the result of the genetic test for NF1 is negative, our behavior will be to observe the child, who must lead a normal life and reassess clinically each year if there is no news.

Now in this respect the test would not change our conduct.

On the other hand, if the test comes negative we have to think about other diseases that can also cause brown spots with milk (although in most of these other diseases the spots are usually atypical). Legius syndrome, Albright Osteodystrophy, Mastocytosis. Also, some forms of NF1 have very few CALMs (Huson, et al.)

Summary: So we came to the question…what other conditions that can cause CALMS?

First, there are the isolated CALMS that are found in 10% of healthy people. There is also a form of CALM in which several members of a family have a spot, without this being a sign of disease. Finally, it is possible that parent great skin color differences could lead to atypical CALM in their children (see another post about this issue HERE ).

On the other hand, there is a relatively large group of diseases that can cause CALM, usually less than 6 spots and atypical: Neurofibromatosis type 2, Schwannomatosis, Legius Syndrome, Noonan Syndrome, Albright Osteodystrophy.

The differentiation between each of these diseases requires a professional with clinical experience in NF1 and various rare diseases and a summary of their characteristics can be found in our article published in 2013 (see here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24676443).