Recurrent hemorrhage from the small intestine in a patient with type 1 neurofibromatosis

Patients with NF-1 may exhibit visceral neurofibromas, Schwannomas and other tumors of ectodermal origin beside the classical cutaneous and neuronal manifestations of neurofibromatosis. In a 46-year-old woman with a previous diagnosis of NF-1 and a history of recurrent intestinal bleeding of obscure origin a well vascularized tumor in a branch of the A. messenterica superior was found by use of scintigraphy and angiography. Intraoperatively two inhomogeneons tumors were found in the proximal jejunum. Histologically these tumors were classified as neurofibromas. After partial resection of the jejunum no further intestinal bleeding occurred in this patient. Therefore the intestinal neurofibromas were presumably the source of the recurrent bleeding.