The Neurofibromatosis and Inherited Acoustic Neuroma Clinic at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is staffed by neurologists and other specialists with medical expertise in these diseases.
Neurofibromatosis and acoustic neuromas are benign tumors of the nerves and other parts of the body. There are two kinds of neurofibromatosis, NF-1 and NF-2.
NF-1, also called von Recklinghausen's disease, is a rare inherited disease that causes multiple noncancerous tumors of the nerves and skin and can cause changes in the color of the skin. NF-2 is also a rare inherited disorder that results in benign tumors of the nerves that transmit sound from the inner ears to the brain. Depending on the location and size of the tumors, symptoms may include problems with balance and walking, dizziness, headache, ringing in the ears, progressive hearing loss and facial weakness, numbness, or pain.
In some cases, NF-2 causes vision problems and heightens the risk of developing specific brain and spinal cord tumors.
Like NF-2, acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous tumor that starts in the cells that wrap around or coat the auditory (hearing) nerve in the head. This type of tumor accounts for about 7% of all skull tumors. Early symptoms may include loss of hearing, ringing in the ears, dizziness and vertigo.
