Purpose: The authors emphasize the potential far the development of an
terior visual pathway gliomas, evidenced by computed tomography (CT) o
r magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, in neurofibromatosis type 1
(NF1) patients who previously had normal neuroimaging studies. Methods
: The clinic charts and CT and MRI scans were retrospectively reviewed
for all patients evaluated al the neurofibromatosis clinic of one ref
erral center over a period of 7 years. Patients with neuroimaging stud
ies demonstrating anterior visual pathway gliomas who previously had n
ormal scans were identified, and their cases are described in detail.
A similar, previously reported series, from the pediatric literature,
was also reviewed, Results: Eight percent (28/360) of patients had CT
or MRI scans revealing optic gliomas. Two of these patients had normal
neuroimaging studies previously, Conclusion: A negative neuroimaging
study in an NF1 patient does not exclude the future development of an
optic glioma.