Neurofibromatosis is a group of genetic disorders characterized by the growth of benign tumors (neurofibromas) along nerves throughout the body. The two main types are NF1 and NF2. Type 1 is the most common, affecting about 1 in 3,000 people, and is characterized by café-au-lait skin spots, optic nerve gliomas, and multiple neurofibromas. On ultrasound, neurofibromas appear as soft tissue masses, hypoechoic to isoechoic relative to muscle, though their ultrasound appearance is nonspecific. MRI is superior for detecting and characterizing neurofibromas throughout the body. Ultrasound may be used to evaluate palpable masses and assess their relationship to adjacent structures before more definitive imaging.
Sonography Term