Neurofibromatosis

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of NF1 are:

• Six or more light brown spots on the skin measuring more than 5 millimeters in diameter in children or more than 15 millimeters across in adolescents and adults.
• Two or more neurofibromas or one plexiform neurofibroma (a neurofibroma that involves multiple nerves).
• Freckling of skin in the armpit or groin region.
• Two or more growths on the iris of the eye called Lisch nodules or iris hamartomas.
• A tumor on the optic nerve called optic glioma.
• Abnormal development of the spine called Scoliosis, the temple (sphenoid) bone of the skull or the tibia.
• Dizziness
• Hearing loss
• Learning disabilities
• A family history with first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) suffering from NF1 (1) & (9).

Signs and symptoms of NF2 are:

- A family history of NF2 (parent, sibling, or child) plus a unilateral vestibular Schwannoma before age 30.

- Bilateral vestibular Schwannomas

or any of the two following symptoms:

• Glioma
• Meningioma
• Schwannoma
• Juvenile posterior sub-capsular lenticular opacity (juvenile cortical cataract) (1).

In addition, the following may be some of the symptoms of NF2:

• Tumors develop frequently on the eighth cranial nerve (vestibulocochlear nerve) causing symptoms of dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), loss of balance and hearing loss in adolescence or early adulthood (9).

Signs and symptoms of Schwannomatosis include:

• Development of multiple Schwannomas everywhere on the body except on the vestibular nerve.
• Excruciating pain on enlargement of Schwannoma compressing the nerves or adjacent tissue.
• Numbness, tingling or weakness in fingers and toes.
• Patients of Schwannomatosis never have neurofibromas (1).

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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