Symptoms of Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis can cause a wide range of signs and symptoms depending on the severity of the condition. The manifestations of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF 1) generally appear in early childhood and affect the skin, eyes, bones, veins, and nerves. Symptoms include:

• Café-au-lait spots (light brown patches of pigment on the skin)
• Freckles in the underarm or groin area
• Neurofibromas (benign skin tumors that may also be found on nerves and organs)
• Lisch nodules (small tumors on the iris), or glaucoma
• Hearing loss
• Headaches
• Seizures
• Scoliosis or other bone abnormalities
• Facial pain or numbness
• Learning disabilities or hyperactivity
• Rarely, brain tumors or aneurysms

Symptoms of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) often don’t appear until adolescence or early adulthood and include:

• Hearing loss
• Headaches
• Vision changes
• Cataracts
• Problems with facial movements
• Difficulty with balance and walking
• Seizures
• Neurofibromas and café-au-lait spots

Neurofibromatosis, whether Type 1 or Type 2, is a complicated disorder that is best treated at a major medical center with a multidisciplinary Neurofibromatosis Program that ensures each patient a comprehensive treatment plan.

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