Neurofibroma

More information on neurofibromatosis and neurofibromas is available from the following resources. Click on each link to view more information.

Children's Hospital of Boston

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has an information page on neurofibromatosis.

You can also contact NINDS for information on neurofibromatosis:

NIH Neurological Institute
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Toll-free: 800-352-9424
Phone: 301-496-5751
TTY: 301-468-5981
E-mail form: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/contact_us.htm
Web site: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

Cylindromas are non-cancerous (benign) tumors that develop from the skin. They most commonly occur on the head and neck and rarely become cancerous (malignant). An individual can develop one or many cylindromas; if a person develops only one, the cylindroma likely occurred by chance and typically is not inherited. They usually begin to form during mid-adulthood as a slow-growing, rubbery nodule that causes no symptoms. The development of multiple cylindromas can be hereditary and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner; this condition is called familial cylindromatosis. Individuals with the inherited form begin to develop many, rounded nodules of various size shortly after puberty. The tumors grow very slowly and increase in number over time.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic condition characterized primarily by changes in skin color and the growth of benign (non-cancerous) tumors along the nerves of the skin, brain, and other parts of the body. The severity and specific features can vary greatly from person to person. NF1 belongs to a group of related conditions called the RASopathies. These conditions have some overlapping signs and symptoms and are all caused by genetic changes that disrupt the body's RAS pathway, affecting growth and development. NF1 is caused by changes (mutations) in the NF1 __ gene and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. In about 50% of cases, it is inherited from an affected parent. Other cases result from a new ( de novo) mutation, occurring for the first time in people with no family history of NF1. Treatment is based on the signs and symptoms present in each person.

A neurofibroma is a non-cancerous (benign) tumor that develops from the cells and tissues that cover nerves. Some people who develop neurofibromas have a genetic condition known as neurofibromatosis (NF). There are different types of NF, but type 1 is the most common.

An article from Medscape Reference provides information on cylindromas. You may need to register to view the article, but registration is free. To access the link, click here.