Our program is one of the few in the country that treats both adults and children. In treating adults with NF-1, we are able to treat other NF-related conditions that are primarily adult diseases that may require long-term management and follow-up care.
UChicago Medicine is uniquely able to provide continuity of care as patients progress into adulthood. Find a Neurologist. NF-2 is sometimes referred to as central neurofibromatosis or bilateral acoustic neuroma disease. NF-2 is different for each person, but because it affects nerves next to the brain or spinal cord, the problems of NF-2 can cause serious disabilities.
Even so, many people with NF-2 can lead relatively normal, rewarding lives and learn to overcome obstacles they may encounter. Patients may develop multiple tumors on nerves associated with swallowing, speech, eye movements and facial sensation, and on the spinal nerves going to the arms and legs.
Signs of NF-2 are usually not present until people are teenagers or older. The most common symptoms of NF-2 are tinnitus ringing in the ears , hearing loss and loss of balance. Schwannomatosis is a rare condition defined by the presence of multiple benign tumors of nerves that are frequently very painful.
In addition to pain, weakness is a common problem. Symptoms usually begin in young or mid-adult years. NF-1 and NF-2 are genetic disorders that may be passed from parent to child, but can also develop due to a spontaneous change in a gene. The gene that causes NF-1 is different than the one that causes NF Schwannomatosis is predominantly a sporadic condition, which means the risk of passing this disorder on to children is substantially less than in NF-1 and NF Our dedicated team of experts can help families navigate this complex disease and provide patients with information about genetic disorders, family planning and the risk of passing on NF to their children.
