neurofibromatosis
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The neurofibromatoses (NF) are genetic disorders of the nervous system. At this time two
distinct forms are known: NF1 and NF2. One baby in every four thousand is born in the
United States with NF1. It is one of the most common genetic disorders, affecting some
one hundred thousand americans. NF2 is less common and occurs in only one and every
forty thousand births. In both forms of NF severity of symptoms vary greatly.
The effects can be severely disabling, mildly disfiguring or can even go undetected.
Several other names for this disorder have been used in the past but recent advancements
in understanding the disorder made some of those terms obsolete.
NF1 was previously known as peripheral neurofibromatosis, or von Recklinghouasen's
disease after the doctor who first described it in 1882. NF2 was called bilateral acoustic
nuerofibromatosis, central neurofibromatosis, or vestibular schwannoma...