Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 10/15/2009

Question
I posted a question yesterday but would like a quick follow up before my appointment on the 20th. I have a history of neurofibromatosis but have no manifestations outside of cafe au lait spots and inguinal freckling and benign macrocephally. While I am no a doctor my childhood was spent in and out of hospitals so I have gained a lot of general medical knowledge along the  way. While looking at my MRI today I did notice the  2X3mm T2 hyperintense mass that the radiologist noted. However this is only slightly brighter then the suronding cord and only appears at 3 axial cross section (radiologist noted at pedicle level) however this does not appear on the sagital images at all. The radiologist only noted a tumor due to my history of NF-1 I however find conflicting literature with non optic glioma or neurofibroma CNS masses occuirng  in NF-1 (I know NF-2 has a clear correlation) The scan also noted no abnormal enhancements with contrast.

I am asking why would this  only appear on axial images could it be an artifact? I also had a minor car accident a month  prior which caused moderate neck pain for a couple of days, could this have caused  free fluid to form in the  spinal cord?

Thank You once again. I know this is probably nothing but  anytime you hear about something in your CNS you tend to worry.

Answer
Yes von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis can give rise to neuromas, for example in the cranial nerves. One example is acoustical neuromas of the 8th cranial nerve (the hearing & balance nerve). However your question needs to be answered by an expert of diagnostic radiology, especially diagnostic neuroradiology with a lot of experience of MRI neuroscanning. I'm not such an expert. I'm a medical oncologist & radiation therapist with experience of TREATING (mainly malignant) brain tumors. So I strongly suggest that you direct your question to such an expert!
Good luck!