Scolloping of the vertebral bodies in von Recklinghausen's disease of the nervous system (neurofibromatosis)

Lateral thoracic meningocele.

“…Thus, Howieson, Norrell, and Wilson (1968) report three cases of expansion of the subarachnoid space with marked scalloping of the posterior borders of the bodies of the vertebrae in patients who also had neurofibromatosis-indeed, one of these patients also had a small lateral thoracic meningocele. Heard and Payne (1962) report six cases of scalloping of thoracic vertebral bodies with myelographic evidence of dilatation of the dura but without any sign of lateral thoracic meningocele. It is clear that at least some of these patients showed progression of the bony changes and that a similar mechanism to that proposed for the production of lateral thoracic meningocele might well be the cause.…”

The Intrasacral Meningocele

“…Myelography demonstrates the dural ectasia and the lateral outpouching of the thecal sac constituting the meningocele. CT and myelo-CT may disclose the vertebral abnormalities and meningoceles, but MRI has been shown to be superior to CT and myelography for assessing these lesions 3,9,10,11,16,18,19 .…”

Posterior scalloping of vertebral bodies in uncontrolled hydrocephalus

“…Occasionally the ribs are spread and their adjacent margins at the site of the meningocele are eroded. Some patients with localized enlargement of the spinal canal and deep scalloping of several vertebral bodies have been studied who had neither meningoceles nor tumours (Heard, 1962;Braun, 1955;Holt and Wright, 1948) and the posterior vertebral excavations in these patients are the most difficult to explain. Most of these cases have had generalized neurofibromatosis (Heard, 1962;Hagelstam, 1946).…”

“…Steinbach, Boldrey, and Sooy (1952) Intrathoracic meningoceles represent one of the well-recognized causes of posterior vertebral scalloping. Reviews of the published reports of intrathoracic meningoceles by Hillenius (1959) (Heard, 1962;Braun, 1955;Holt and Wright, 1948) and the posterior vertebral excavations in these patients are the most difficult to explain. Most of these cases have had generalized neurofibromatosis (Heard, 1962;Hagelstam, 1946).…”

“…Reviews of the published reports of intrathoracic meningoceles by Hillenius (1959) (Heard, 1962;Braun, 1955;Holt and Wright, 1948) and the posterior vertebral excavations in these patients are the most difficult to explain. Most of these cases have had generalized neurofibromatosis (Heard, 1962;Hagelstam, 1946). A case reported by Jefferson (1955) and another case reported by Schr6der (1956) did not have stigmata of neurofibromatosis and it has been suggested that these two cases may represent a forme fruste of neurofibromatosis.…”