A RARE MANIFESTATION OF VON RECKLINGHAUSEN NEUROFIBROMATOSIS - ADVANCED NEUROFIBROMATOUS INFILTRATION IN LUNG OF A HIV-POSITIVE PATIENT

This is a report of a 28-year-old HIV+ man with extensive involvement of lungs, spinal roots and peripheral nerves by neurofibromatosis von Recklinghausen. Huge masses (neurofibromas) ventral of the spine, whic h already infiltrated into the foramina intervertebralia, could be loc ated by magnetic resonance imaging and high resolution computer tomogr aphy. Strikingly, most biopsies taken by bronchoscopy of the bronchial wall from various parts of the airways revealed extended infiltration by neurofibromas in submucosal areas, but no malignant tissue compone nts. In addition, HIV infection with low CD4/CD8 ratio (0.1) and low C D4+ cells (160/mu 1) was found.