All issues > Volume 49(2); 2006

Case Report

Korean J Pediatr. 2006;49(2):203-207. Published online February 15, 2006.

Gastric neurofibroma in von Recklinghausen disease : a cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Bo Sang BS Kwon¹, Jeong Ok JO Shim¹, Jeong Kee JK Seo¹, Hye Ran HR Yang¹, Jae Sung JS Ko¹, Seong Eun SE Jung², Woo Sun WS Kim³, Gyeong Hoon GH Kang⁴

¹Departments of Pediatrics, Surgery*, Radiology† and Pathology, Seoul National University College of
²Departments of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
³Departments of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
⁴Departments of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Jeong Kee JK Seo ,Email: jkseo@snu.ac.kr

Abstract

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (von Recklinghausen disease, NF1) involves the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as the skin, bone, endocrine, gastrointestinal and vascular systems. The gastrointestinal neurofibroma associated with NF1 has been infrequently reported. We report our experience with a 15-year-old boy who had a gastric plexiform neurofibroma with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and underwent a tumorectomy because of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We conclude that gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia in the setting of NF1 mandates complete endoscopic examination of the digestive tract to rule out neurofibromas. Surgical resection is the standard treatment.

Keywords :Neurofibromatosis , Plexiform neurofibroma , Stomach , Gastrointestinal bleeding