Neurofibromatosis
Neurofibromatosis is a syndrome of an abnormality in a gene that leads to tumors, usually benign. This condition, which affects the nervous system, causes tumors to grow on nerves, as well as on and under the skin. It can either be a genetic disorder or a genetic mutation.
Type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1), which can present symptoms as early as at birth, can affect the skin, bones and brain. Type 2 neurofibromatosis (NF2) frequently starts in the teenage years and causes poor balance, ringing in the ears and hearing loss.
NF1, the more common type, accounts for 90 percent of cases associated with gliomas and pheochromocytomas neurofibromatosis.
NF2 is often associated with schwannomas, meningiomas and ependymomas.