Are "Unidentified Bright Objects" Useful for Diagnosis of Pediatric NF1?

"Unidentified bright objects" (UBOs)-- areas of enhanced T2 signal intensity -- are apparent on brain MRI in some children with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). These authors assessed the sensitivity and specificity of UBOs on MRI for diagnosis of pediatric NF1. Subjects were 19 children (ages 4 through 10 years) fulfilling diagnostic criteria for NF1 and 19 age-matched controls who underwent MRI for various clinical conditions. Two pediatric neuroradiologists scored the MRIs.

UBOs were identified in 18 of 19 NF1 patients and 3 of 19 controls by radiologist 1 and in 19 of 19 NF1 patients and 5 of 19 controls by radiologist 2. UBOs were most often found in the cerebellum, brainstem, and basal ganglia in NF1 patients and in the cerebrum in controls.…