NEUROFIBROMATOSIS OF THE COLON, SMALL INTESTINE AND MESENTERY IN A CHILD

Abstract

This case is presented as the first to be recorded in the literature of neurofibromatosis of the colon in a child. According to Miller and Frank,1 there is no uniformity of opinion as to the classification or histogenesis of such tumors. The name neuroma, which is perhaps the oldest one, was used by writers contemporary with von Recklinghausen. Other descriptive names include neurilemmoma, neuronoma, peripheral fibroglioma, fibroblastoma, neurogenic fibroma, neurinoma, peripheral glioma, lemmoma, schwannoma, false neuroma and perineural fibroblastoma. Weber2described the case of a 30 year old man in whom the appendix reached a length of 20 cm. because of a giant growth of this type. In all of its walls was found an overgrowth of nerve webs with large ganglion cells. This same condition was observed in the cecum and in the colon. Rivas Diez3described a case of involvement of the cecum in a 50