Ocular motility abnormalities in orbitofacial neurofibromatosis type 1

Management of esotropia: hypotropia in neurofibromatosis type 1 - simulating myopic strabismus fixus

A 28-year-old man presented with a progressive inward deviation of the left eye in the last 4 years. Examination revealed -3 abduction and elevation deficit in the left eye with 50 prism diopters (PD) esotropia and 12 PD of hypotropia. The patient had multiple fibromas on the forearms with pulsatile globe and was diagnosed as neurofibromatosis type 1. Myopic strabismus fixus was suspected. MRI revealed left temporal lobe herniation through a dysplastic sphenoid wing, compressing the posterior half of the superior rectus and lateral rectus muscles, resulting in an esotropia-hypotropia complex. Surgical treatment involved suture myopexy (Yokoyama's technique) of the left superior rectus and lateral rectus muscles with a 6.5 mm left medial rectus recession. Two months postoperatively, the patient had minimal residual esotropia and hypotropia. MRI orbits should always be performed in high myopes with strabismus to assess extraocular muscle pathways.

Orbital/Periorbital Plexiform Neurofibromas in Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Multidisciplinary Recommendations for Care

TOPIC

Children and adults with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a common autosomal dominant condition, manifest a variety of ophthalmologic conditions. Plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) involving the eyelid, orbit, periorbital, and facial structures (orbital-periorbital plexiform neurofibroma [OPPN]) can result in significant visual loss in children. Equally important, OPPNs can cause significant alteration in physical appearance secondary to proptosis, ptosis, and facial disfigurement, leading to social embarrassment and decreased self-esteem.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Although NF1 is a relatively common disease in which routine ophthalmologic examinations are required, no formal recommendations for clinical care of children with OPPNs exist. Although medical and surgical interventions have been reported, there are no agreed-on criteria for when OPPNs require therapy and which treatment produces the best outcome.

METHODS

Because a multidisciplinary team of specialists (oculofacial plastics, pediatric ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology, medical genetics, and neuro-oncology) direct management decisions, the absence of a uniform outcome measure that represents visual or aesthetic sequelae complicates the design of evidence-based studies and feasible clinical trials.

RESULTS

In September 2013, a multidisciplinary task force, composed of pediatric practitioners from tertiary care centers experienced in caring for children with OPPN, was convened to address the lack of clinical care guidelines for children with OPPN.

CONCLUSIONS

This consensus statement provides recommendations for ophthalmologic monitoring, outlines treatment indications and forthcoming biologic therapy, and discusses challenges to performing clinical trials in this complicated condition.