The neurofibromatoses are genetic disorders of the nervous system that primarily affect the development and growth of neural (nerve) cell tissues. These disorders cause tumors to grow on nerves and produce other abnormalities such as skin changes and bone deformities. Although many affected persons inherit the disorder, between 30 and 50 percent of new cases arise spontaneously through mutation (change) in an individual's genes. Once this change has taken place, the mutant gene can be passed on to succeeding generations. Scientists have classified the disorders as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). NF1 is the more common type of the neurofibromatoses. In diagnosing NF1, a physician looks for changes in skin appearance, tumors, or bone abnormalities, and/or a parent, sibling, or child with NF1. Symptoms of NF1, particularly those on the skin, are often evident at birth or during infancy and almost always by the time a child is about 10 years old. NF2 is less common. NF2 is characterized by bilateral (occurring on both sides of the body) tumors on the eighth cranial nerve. The tumors cause pressure damage to neighboring nerves. To determine whether an individual has NF2, a physician looks for bilateral eighth nerve tumors and similar signs and symptoms in a parent, sibling, or child. Affected individuals may notice hearing loss as early as the teen years. Other early symptoms may include tinnitus (ringing noise in the ear) and poor balance. Headache, facial pain, or facial numbness, caused by pressure from the tumors, may also occur.
Children's Tumor Foundation 95 Pine Street 16th Floor New York, NY 10005 info@ctf.org http://www.ctf.org Tel: 800-323-7938 212-344-6633 Fax: 212-747-0004 |
National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Institutes of Health, DHHS 6116 Executive Boulevard, Ste. 3036A, MSC 8322 Bethesda, MD 20892-8322 cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov http://cancer.gov Tel: 800-4-CANCER (422-6237) 800-332-8615 (TTY) |
Neurofibromatosis, Inc. (NF Inc.) P.O. Box 66884 Chicago, IL 60666 nfinfo@nfinc.org http://www.nfinc.org Tel: 630-627-1115 800-942-6825 |
Acoustic Neuroma Association 600 Peachtree Parkway Suite 108 Cumming, GA 30041 info@anausa.org http://www.anausa.org Tel: 770-205-8211 877-200-8211 Fax: 770-205-0239/877-202-0239 |
International RadioSurgery Association 3002 N. Second Street Harrisburg, PA 17110 office1@irsa.org http://www.irsa.org Tel: 717-260-9808 Fax: 717-260-9809 |
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Last updated March 04, 2009