Pediatric Neurofibromatosis (NF)

Summary

Neurofibromatosis causes tumors to grow on nerve tissue, which can result in hearing loss, vision problems, cardiovascular problems and other issues.

Expanded overview

Neurofibromatosis is a genetic condition (passed down from parent to child) in which tumors grow on the nerve tissue. Typically, the tumors are benign (noncancerous), but can sometimes become malignant (cancerous). These tumors can develop anywhere throughout the nervous system, such as the brain, spinal cord or nerves.

The Neurofibromatosis Program at the Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders is the largest pediatric neurofibromatosis (NF) program in North Texas and the only regional program affiliated with the Children’s Tumor Foundation. 

Under the leadership of UT Southwestern assistant professor of pediatrics and neurological surgery Laura Klesse, M.D., Ph.D., the number of active patients in the program has doubled and continues to grow. The Neurofibromatosis Program at Children’s Health currently treats patients with all types of neurofibromatosis – the more common neurofibromatosis type 1 as well as the less common neurofibromatosis type 2 and schwannomatosis.

The growth of our program reflects the effectiveness of our comprehensive approach to patient care and our ability to leverage clinical trials to the benefit of patients.

Types

There are three types of neurofibromatosis:

• Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) – This condition usually appears shortly after birth, and almost always by age 10.
• Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) – Much less common than NF1, this condition usually appears by the late teen (15 to 17 years*) or early adult years (18 to 25 years*). In this condition, tumors known as acoustic neuromas grow in both ears, affecting hearing and balance.
• Schwannomatosis – This rare condition typically affects individuals after age 20, and causes tumors to grow on the cranial (skull), spinal and peripheral nerves.

Symptoms

Neurofibromatosis 1

Signs and symptoms of NF1 can vary in severity over time and include:

• Below average height
• Bone deformities
• Curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
• Flat, light brown spots on the skin (called café au lait spots)
• Freckling in the armpits or groin area
• Learning disabilities
• Soft bumps on or under the skin (neurofibromas)
• Tiny bumps on the iris of the eye (Lisch nodules)
• Tumor on the optic nerve (optic glioma)
• Unusually large head

Neurofibromatosis 2

Individuals with NF2 may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

• Cataracts
• Difficulty balancing
• Facial drop (face has lost muscle tone and appears to be drooping)
• Gradual hearing loss
• Headaches
• Numbness and weakness in the arms or legs
• Pain
• Poor balance
• Ringing in the ear
• Vision problems

Schwannomatosis

The main symptoms of schwannomatosis are:

• Chronic pain anywhere in the body
• Loss of muscle
• Numbness or weakness anywhere in the body

*Age of late teen and early adult as defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Treatments

Neurofibromatosis 1

Children with neurofibromatosis 1 can develop several health conditions can develop including fluid build-up in the brain, headaches, seizures, heart defects, and high blood pressure. Children with NF1 may also have learning or behavioral challenges.  Due to these conditions, medical treatment may include medication, surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, among other interventions.

Coordinating Care

NF is the most common cancer predisposition syndrome in children. Managing this chronic disease year in and year out requires continuity of care with a focus on screening and access to subspecialists. To that end, the NF Program holds two clinics a week to accommodate annual or more frequent office visits for all patients. These visits allow us to track patient health and serve as the coordination point for regular screenings – ophthalmological and neuropsychology evaluations are common, for example.

Once a month, complex NF cases are brought before a comprehensive board of subspecialists to develop and coordinate medical treatment plans. The board includes not only medical subspecialists, such as neurologists, neuropsychologists and ophthalmologists, but also school services specialists and surgical subspecialists. Given this breadth of expertise, all NF-related issues receive the best possible treatment.