Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a genetic condition that causes tumours to grow along your nerves. The tumours are usually non-cancerous (benign) but may cause a range of symptoms. There is no cure for NF2.
Symptoms of neurofibromatosis type 2
Almost everyone with NF2 develops tumours along the nerves responsible for hearing and balance.
These usually cause symptoms such as:
- hearing loss that gradually gets worse over time
- hearing ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
- balance problems – particularly when moving in the dark or walking on uneven ground
You can also get other tumours inside the brain or spinal cord, or along the nerves to the arms and legs.
This can lead to symptoms such as weakness in the arms and legs, and persistent headaches.
About two in three people with NF2 develop cloudy patches in the lens of the eye (cataracts), causing reduced eyesight.
Skin problems
Just over half of people with NF2 develop benign tumours on or underneath the surface of their skin (schwannomas).
They often take the form of skin plaques: small, coloured, raised patches of skin, usually less than two centimetres across.
Tumours that develop under the skin can grow to around the size of a golf ball and can be painful if they develop along a section of nerves.
Some people with NF2 may also develop coffee-coloured patches on their skin (café au lait spots).
Having lots of these spots is usually a sign of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
Causes of neurofibromatosis type 2
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is caused by a faulty gene.
If the NF2 gene is faulty, it leads to uncontrolled growths (tumours) developing in the nervous system.
In half of all cases of NF2, the faulty gene is passed from a parent to their child.
Only one parent needs to have the faulty gene for their child to be at risk of developing the condition.
If either the mother or father has the faulty gene, there's a one in two chance that each child they have will develop NF2.
In other cases, the faulty gene appears to develop spontaneously. It's unclear why this happens.
If you have a child who develops NF2 spontaneously, it's highly unlikely any further children you have will also develop the condition.
However, a person who develops NF2 spontaneously can pass the condition to their children.
Mosaic NF2
About one in three people with NF2 have a form of the disease called mosaic NF2.
The symptoms of mosaic NF2 are milder and often restricted to a certain area or side of the body.
People with mosaic NF2 have lower than the usual 50 per cent risk of having a child with NF2.
However, if their child does have NF2, it will be the more common type and not mosaic NF2.
Diagnosing neurofibromatosis type 2
It's usually easy to diagnose NF2 in adults and older children by checking for the typical symptoms.
It may be diagnosed in babies who show symptoms of NF2 from birth. However, it's not always possible to make a firm diagnosis before a child is five years old, because some symptoms take years to develop.
If NF2 is suspected, further tests – such as scans, hearing tests, sight tests or blood tests – may be recommended. This is to assess whether your child has other symptoms or conditions associated with NF2.
If there's uncertainty about the diagnosis, your child may be able to have a blood test to see whether they have the faulty NF2 gene.
However, the test isn't completely reliable and may not find an alteration in the NF2 gene in all people with NF2 symptoms.
Before and during pregnancy
Couples with a family history of NF2 may wish to consider their options before having a baby.
Your GP can refer you to a genetic counsellor to discuss your options, which may include:
- having a child with a donor egg or sperm
- adopting a child
- having a test during pregnancy – either chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis to see if your baby will have NF2
- pre-implantation genetic diagnosis – where eggs are fertilised and tested in a laboratory, and only eggs without the faulty NF2 gene are implanted in the womb
Treatment for neurofibromatosis type 2
There's no cure for NF2.
Treatment involves regular monitoring and treating any problems as they occur.
Surgery can be used to remove most tumours, although it carries a risk of causing problems, such as complete deafness or facial weakness.
Therefore, the risks and potential benefits need to be carefully considered before treatment.
Most people with NF2 eventually develop significant hearing loss and often benefit from using a hearing aid or learning to lip read.
Special implants can sometimes be inserted to improve a person's hearing.
NF2 tends to get worse over time, although the speed at which this happens varies considerably.
Most people with NF2 eventually lose their hearing completely and some people require a wheelchair or other type of mobility device.
Tumours developing inside the brain and spinal cord can place a strain on the body and shorten life expectancy.
More useful links
The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website.
For further information see terms and conditions.