Lisch nodule historical perspective
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Swathi Venkatesan, M.B.B.S.[2]
Historical Perspective
- Neurofibromatosis (NF), a disease described in 1882 by Friedrich Daniel Von Recklinghausen. [1]
- NF is a neuroectodermal abnormality constituted by a set of clinical symptoms that compromise the skin, nervous system, bones, eyes and other sites.
- Lisch Nodules were named after the infamous Austrian ophthalmologist Karl Lisch (1907-1999). [2]
- Lisch was a well known ophthalmologist; his patients came from all parts of Austria, Germany, and Italy. In the region of North Tyrol he was called "Ophthalmological Pope".
- Besides general ophthalmology, Lisch was interested in scientific research. He published more than 120 scientific papers in German science journals.
- In 1937, Karl Lisch published an article on the iris hamartomas and their association with neurofibromatosis 1, now known as "Lisch nodules", while at the University Eye Clinic in Munich.
- Lisch'a article described his observations in 3 patients with neurofibromatosis
- Patient 1: a 39 year old male who had been affected with several nodules and pigmented lesions on the skin, typical of neurofibromatosis, since the age of 15 years. His mother and his sisters had a similar disorder. Lisch observed several brown nodules on the surface of the iris. The nodules could be seen even without the slit lamp due to the greyish-blue color of the iris.
- Patient 2: 27 year old patient with similar cutaneous and iris lesions could be detected along with a family history of neurofibromatosis. In comparison to the first patient the iris nodules were much more pigmented.
- Patient 3: a 44 year old male suffered form bilateral optic nerve gliomas with chiasmal involvement. The slit lamp examination revealed tiny iris nodules in both eyes.
References
- ↑ Antônio JR, Goloni-Bertollo EM, Trídico LA (2013). "Neurofibromatosis: chronological history and current issues". An Bras Dermatol. 88 (3): 329–43. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20132125. PMC 3754363. PMID 23793209.
- ↑ Singh, Arun D. (2009). "Karl Lisch, MD: Remembered July 24, 1907 - February 5, 1999". Ophthalmic Genetics. 21 (2): 129–131. doi:10.1076/1381-6810(200006)2121-8FT129. ISSN 1381-6810.