Dermoscopy of the iris : identification of Lisch nodulesand contribution to the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1

Abstract

Neurofibromatosis is a common genodermatosis, whose diagnosis often involves theparticipation of a dermatologist. A case of a 38-year-old female patient with four café-au-laitmacules and eleven neurofibromas on clinical examination is presented. Dermoscopy allowedthe identification of Lisch nodules in the iris, bilaterally. The combination of these findingsallowed the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1, according to NIH criteria. Lisch nodulesare melanocytic hamartomas of the iris, which must be evaluated through a visual augmenta-tion method, usually employed in ophthalmology. Alternatively, dermoscopy can be used andcontribute to the early diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1.