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Neurofibromatosis 2

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Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Central nervous system
Central nervous system

Alternative names    Return to top

NF2; Bilateral Acoustic Neurofibromatosis (BAN); Central Bilateral Acoustic NF

Definition    Return to top

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

See also neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors    Return to top

NF2 is inherited, and the main risk factor is having a family history of NF2. Inheritance is autosomal dominant. If a parent has NF2, the chances of a child having it are 50-50.

Symptoms    Return to top

Signs and tests    Return to top

Signs include:

Tests include:

Treatment    Return to top

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

Support Groups    Return to top

For information and support, see www.nf.org

Update Date: 11/3/2003

Updated by: Celeste Krauss, M.D., Board Certified Clinical Genetics, Clinical Cytogenetics and Pediatrics. Founding Fellow, American College of Medical Genetics. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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