Neurofibromatosis
By: Grace DuRocher
Neurofibromatosis 1
Other names for this disease include Recklinghausen Disease or NF.
Other varieties of this disease include Neurofibromatosis 2 and Schwannomatosis.
Cause of the Disease
Chromosome 17 contains the gene that creates the protein neurofibromin, which regulates the growth of cells. The change in the gene results in the loss of neurofibromin, which causes the body's cells to grow uncontrollably.
Who has neurofibromatosis?
It is a congenital disease and occurs equally in males and females and all ethnicities and races.
The disease is an autosomal dominant disorder, so the child of a person with neurofibromatosis has a 50% chance of also having the disease.
Some Symptoms include...
- freckling in the groin and armpit areas
- tiny bumps on the iris
- soft bumps on or under the skin
- bone deformities
- vision loss
- learning disabilities
- larger than average size head
- short height
Prevention
People with the disease can have children, but genetic testing is recommended for anyone with neurofibromatosis in their family history.
The children of a parent with neurofibromatosis have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease.
Prenatal testing is available if the pathogenic variant in the family is known.
Treatment
There are many treatments for the symptoms, but the disease can’t be cured. There are surgeries to have the tumors removed and stereotactic radio surgeries that use radiation to remove tumors.
Depending on the where the tumors grow and the patient’s symptoms, the affected child may need surgery to remove tumors. They may also need special schooling if they experience a learning disability.
The treatment basically stays the same throughout the affected person's life and varies depending on the symptoms the person endures.
Long-Term Outlook
Therefore, if there are no complications the affected child will live a fairly normal life.
People with neurofibromatosis may be affected by learning disabilities, vision or hearing loss, visible tumors on their skin, or spinal curvatures; but, they will live mostly unaffected.
In most cases the tumors are benign, but may develop into malignant: so in most cases cancer treatment is unnecessary.
Neurofibromatosis in the Future
Scientists are still working on developing more effective treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy to remove the tumors. They are also trying to find factors that may control and regulate the growth of the tumors.
There are currently new treatments for the removal of tumors under investigation now.