Correlations between choroidal abnormalities, Lisch nodules, and age in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1

Abstract

Shinji Makino, Hironobu Tampo, Yusuke Arai, Hiroto ObataDepartment of Ophthalmology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, JapanAbstract: To evaluate correlations between choroidal abnormalities, Lisch nodules, and age in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), we examined ten cases with NF1 using near-infrared reflectance imaging. Patients ranged in age from 4 to 39 years. The angle used for near-infrared reflectance imaging was 55°. We counted the total number of choroidal abnormalities in an area within a 55° angle centered on the fovea and the total number of Lisch nodules on the iris by slit-lamp examination. No positive correlation was found between the number of Lisch nodules and patient age (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient ρ=0.117, P=0.7414). Choroidal abnormalities tended to increase with age (ρ=0.6150), but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.0650). A positive correlation was found between the number of choroidal abnormalities and Lisch nodules (ρ=0.783, P=0.0267). In conclusion, choroidal abnormalities tend to increase with patient age and are correlated with the number of Lisch nodules.Keywords: neurofibromatosis type 1, near-infrared reflectance, choroidal abnormality, Lisch nodule, age