MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Neurofibromatosis 2

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Neurofibromatosis 2

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative Names Definition Causes	Symptoms Exams and Tests Treatment Support Groups

Illustrations

Central nervous system

Alternative Names Return to top

NF2; Bilateral acoustic neurofibromatosis; Central bilateral acoustic NF

Definition Return to top

Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) is a genetic disorder in which tumors form on the nerves of the brain and spine (the central nervous system).

See also: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)

Causes Return to top

NF2 is passed down through families in an autosomal dominant fashion. This means that if one parent has NF2, any child of that parent has a 50-50 chance of having it.

The main risk factor is having a family history of the condition.

Symptoms Return to top

Symptoms of NF2 include:

Balance problems
Cataracts at a young age
Changes in vision
Coffee-colored marks on the skin
Facial weakness
Headaches
Hearing loss
Ringing and noises in the ears

Exams and Tests Return to top

Signs include:

Brain and spinal tumors
Hearing-related (acoustic) tumors
Skin tumors

Tests include:

Genetic testing
Medical history
MRI
Physical examination

Treatment Return to top

Most patients need surgery to remove tumors. Tumors also can be treated with radiation.

Support Groups Return to top

For information and support, visit www.nf.org.

Update Date: 10/25/2007

Updated by: Chad Haldeman-Englert, M.D., Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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