Melanin macroglobules as a cellular marker of neurofibromatosis: A quantitative study

Abstract

To investigate the usefulness of melanin macroglobules (MMG) as a cellular marker for neurofibromatosis, their density was quantified in biopsies of cafe-au-lait spots (macules) (CALM) from 22 patients with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis, 6 patients with bilateral acoustic neurofibromatosis, and 19 controls. The density of MMG was significantly higher in biopsies of the CALM of patients with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis than in patients with bilateral acoustic neurofibromatosis (p < .01) or controls (p