Natural history of PHACE syndrome: A survey of adults with PHACE.

BACKGROUND: Awareness of PHACE syndrome has increased; however, little information exists regarding its natural history, especially in patients over the age of 18. We aim to describe the natural history of PHACE to enhance clinical management and counseling of patients. METHODS: A cohort of patients ≥ 18 years was identified through the PHACE Syndrome Registry and a Vascular Anomalies Clinic Database. A cross-sectional survey was designed after a review of the literature by PHACE experts (IF, JP, DS). Questions were selected by consensus, and the survey was conducted using the Qualtrics platform and via in-person interviews. A 75% response rate was found. RESULTS: Eighteen adults-17 females and one transgender male-completed the survey. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 59, with 24 being the mean age. Eighty-nine percent reported experiencing headaches, and 17% reported experiencing acute but transient symptoms mimicking acute ischemic stroke, later diagnosed as atypical migraines. Thirty-three percent reported hearing loss, and 67% endorsed dental issues. One patient experienced two arterial dissections. Three-fourths who attempted conception were successful, and none of their children had clinical features of PHACE. Because results were based on a retrospective survey, data captured were prone to recall bias and not objective. Results were limited by a small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers should be aware of a possible increased risk of neurovascular complications, including atypical migraines mimicking transient ischemic attacks and arterial dissection, in adults with PHACE. Heritability has not been demonstrated, and future studies are needed to assess the risk of infertility.

[Phacomatosis and genetically determined tumors: the transition from childhood to adulthood]. / Phacomatoses et tumeurs génétiquement déterminées: la transition enfant-adulte.

Phacomatoses, or neurocutaneous disorders, are a group of congenital and hereditary diseases characterized by developmental lesions of the neuroectoderm, leading to pathologies affecting the skin and the central nervous system. There is a wide range of pathologies affecting individuals at different moments of life. The genetics is variable: while neurofibromatosis 1 and 2, tuberous sclerosis and von Hippel-Lindau disease are all inherited as autosomal dominant traits, Sturge-Weber syndrome is sporadic. Other neurocutaneous disorders can be inherited as autosomal recessive traits (i.e., ataxia-telangiectasia), X-linked (i.e., incontinentia pigmenti) or explained by mosaicism (i.e., hypomelanosis of Ito, McCune-Albright syndrome). In this review, we discuss the major types of neurocutaneous disorders most frequently encountered by the neurosurgeon and followed beyond childhood. They include neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, tuberous sclerosis, Sturge-Weber syndrome and von Hippel-Lindau disease. In each case, a review of the literature, including diagnosis, genetics and treatment will be presented. The lifespan of the disease with the implications for neurosurgeons will be emphasized. A review of cases, including both pediatric and adult patients, seen in neurosurgical practices in the Lille, France and Lausanne, Switzerland hospitals between 1961 and 2007 is presented to illustrate the pathologies seen in different age-groups. Because the genes mutated in most phacomatoses are involved in development and are activated following a timed schedule, the phenotype of these diseases evolves with age. The implication of the neurosurgeon varies depending on the patient's age and pathology. While neurosurgeons tend to see pediatric patients affected with neurofibromatosis type 1, tuberous sclerosis and Sturge-Weber syndrome, there will be a majority of adult patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease or neurofibromatosis type 2.

Neurocutaneous syndromes: behavioral features.

Neurocutaneous syndromes are disorders characterized by a neurological abnormality and cutaneous manifestations. Three of the more common neurocutaneous syndromes are Sturge-Weber syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and neurofibromatosis. This review focuses on the cognitive and behavioral features of these syndromes.

An unusual case of neurocutaneous melanosis.

The neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare, neuroectodermal dysplasia defined by the association of giant or multiple, nonmalignant pigmented cutaneous nevi with leptomeningeal melanosis or melanoma. As a rule, the cerebral pathological substratum is characterized by a melanocytic infiltration of the leptomeninges, often leading to hydrocephalus. The most frequent clinical symptomatology starts early in life, with convulsive seizures, psychomotor delay, intracranial hyperpression: the prognosis is severe. Malignant melanomas can also occur. One 21 years-old patient affected by NCM with a giant bathing nevus and epilepsy is reported. Her psychomotor development was slightly delayed. Academic progress was disturbed by the frequency of seizures and the multiple dermatological surgeries, and she remained at the elementary school level. Her epilepsy appeared at seven years and became pharmacoresistant. It was a focal, left temporal epilepsy. Neuroimaging investigations were performed repeatedly, and demonstrated the progressive appearance of parenchymal lesions with T1 and T2 shortening, without contrast enhancement, at the pons (11 years), the two hippocampi (14 years), and of an atrophy of the cerebellum and the brainstem (19 years). No hydrocephalus, tumoral aspect, or meningeal involvement were demonstrated. This patient's case is peculiar because her neurological symptomatology consists only of focal epilepsy, unrelated to a tumor, with moderate cognitive impairment despite a rather long course of the disease. Her evolution raises the question of condidency to surgical treatment.

Neurocutaneous melanosis and psychosis: a case report.

The paper describes a case of neurocutaneous melanosis (NM), with mental retardation, chronic psychosis, and epilepsy possibly due to a temporal focus. This is the first report of NM associated with a severe and chronic psychosis. It is likely that such an association has not previously been described because of the ominous prognosis of most cases of NM with early involvement of the central nervous system.