MULTIPLE NEUROFIBROMATOSIS (VON RECKLING-HAUSEN'S DISEASE)

Abstract

The occurrence of isolated tumors of nerves is relatively frequent, probably more so than generally supposed, for the reason that in the case of many fibromata, fibromyxomata or other tumors a connection with nerves is not always ascertainable. Most tumors of nerves are fibromata or fibromyxomata. I have studied fourteen such tumors, eight of which were situated in the nerves of the forearm and five in those of the lower limbs. The cases were equally divided between the sexes. Most of the tumors occurred in patients between 20 and 40 years of age, and in some of the cases the tumors developed slowly, in the course of ten to fifteen years. In a woman of 50 years there first appeared a pure fibroma, which was removed by operation. Then repeated recurrent growths appeared which gradually became sarcomatous and caused death ten years after the appearance of the first tumor.