Your web browser is out of date. Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site.
Find out more

Visitor Information: The RPS Gallery and coffee shop will be closed on Saturday 7 December

Picture15

Neurofibromatosis: Von Recklinghausen's Disease

 Neurofibromatosis is also known as Von Recklinghausen’s Disease named after Frederich Danial Von Recklinghausen (1833 to 1910), one of Germany’s most distinguished pathologists who first described in 1882.  ‘Von Recklinghausen’s Disease’ must not be confused with another disease he described which is known as Von Recklinghausen’s Disease of Bone or generalised ostetits fibrosa.

 Neurofibromatosis occurs in all races.  It is a relatively common disorder and has an incidence of 1 in 3,000.  Many reports suggest a male predominance, although some researchers indicate the male to female ratio as 1:1.  Most patients have a definite family history consistent with autosomal transmission.

 The disease is characterized by multiple skin neurofibroma and pigmentation.  In fact, the fibromas have been described as the “hallmark” of the disease.  The neurofibromas vary in shape being cylindrical, spherical and beaded.  On the exterior aspects of the body they appear in various sizes ranging from less than one centimetre to more than 20 centimetre in diameter and similar tumours may occur internally.  Many unusual symptoms may be related to the presence of tumours in various internal organs such as heart, larynx, blood vessels and gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding can occur when neurofibromas appear within the GI tract.  A tumour can cause narrowing of a renal artery which may induce hypertension.  A wide range of associated abnormalities has been reported in patients with neurofibromatosis and almost 40% of them have skeletal lesions such as scoliosis, pseudoarthrosis of the tibia, scalloping of the vertebrae and cystic osteolytic lesions.

The neurofibromas are usually slow growing lesions but accelerated increase in the size may indicate malignant change.  Illustrations of the earlier stages of the disease showing café-au-lait patches and later development to multiple fibroma of the peripheral cutaneous nerve sheaths have been documented2.  

 The case illustrated here shows full-fledged disease of long duration and the experience of photographing this has been reported elsewhere3.

 References 

  • Von Recklinghausen FD.  Ueber die multiplen Fibrome der Haut and ihre Beziehung zu den multiplen Neuro-men.  Festschrift zurFeier des funfund-zwanzigjahrigen Bestchens des Pathologischeen Institute zu Berlin.  Herr Rudolf  Virchow dargebracht.  Hirschwald:  Berlin, 1882.
  • Cameron G.  Case presentation :  neurofibromatosis.  J Audiodv Media Med 1988; 11:128.
  • Ansary A.  Neurofibromatosis:  Von Recklinghausen’s Disease.  J Biol Photog 1994; 62: 133.

Photo Copyright: Afzal Ansary