Breast cancer associated with neurofibromatosis type 1: a case series and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION: Neurofibromatosis type 1, also known as Von Recklinghausen’s disease, is a rare neuroectodermal disease that mainly affects the skin and the nervous system. Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 have a higher risk of developing various types of cancers, especially tumors derived from the embryogenic neural crest. However, its association with breast cancer has seldom been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the cases of three white Arabic women diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1, with a median age of 40-years-old (range: 39 to 43), who sought treatment at our centre for breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The association between neurofibromatosis type 1 and breast cancer is uncommon. In our case series we readdress this association through a literature review.