The association of spinal deformity with dural ectasia in neurofibromatosis type 1

Objective: To establish the prevalence of dural ectasia in patients with complex neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF-1) and its association with spinal deformities that manifest alongside.Methods: Analysis of the neuroradiological notes from 24 months of multidisciplinary team meetings for patients with complex NF-1 (equating to 378 patients). Review of the MRI scans of all patients with dural ectasia with each scan graded using a novel grading system.Results: A total of 38 of the 378 patients were found to have dural ectasia (10.05%). The median age of these 38 patients was 36 years ranging from 18 to 64. The male: female ratio was 16:22. In all, 90.9% of patients with a ‘major’ form of dural ectasia had a concurrent spinal deformity present compared to 18.18% of patients with a minor form.Conclusions: The more severe the dural ectasia, the greater the likelihood a concurrent deformity with NF-1. The vertebral bodies and pedicles are more commonly involved than the posterior elements.