Consensus on Malignant and Benign Tumors in Pediatric Patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1: On Behalf of the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Oncology (SOBOPE).

Abstract

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an inherited, autosomal dominant syndrome that affects about 1 in every 3000 people worldwide. Early tumor detection is crucial for surveillance and intervention, especially given the potential for serious complications, including visual impairment, skeletal deformities, and malignancy. Therefore, it is essential for pediatricians and other healthcare professionals who provide care to these patients to be aware of all signs, treatments, and management strategies to deliver the best possible care. This study aims to develop a consensus for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of benign and malignant tumors associated with pediatric patients with NF1. Delphi methodology was used to achieve consensus among experts on the diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic efficacy, safety, and surveillance of pediatric patients with NF1. The consensus made 24 recommendations: gliomas in the optic pathway-6 statements, non-optical gliomas-2 statements, plexiform neurofibromas-5 statements, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST)-6 statements, melanoma-1 statement, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML)-1 statement, pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma-2 statements, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)-1 statement. This consensus represents the first Brazilian recommendations on malignant and benign tumors in pediatric patients with NF1, providing a framework to standardize and optimize the clinical application for this disease.