neurofibromatosis

noun

neu·​ro·​fi·​bro·​ma·​to·​sis ˌnu̇r-ō-(ˌ)fī-ˌbrō-mə-ˈtō-səs 

ˌnyu̇r-

: a disorder inherited as an autosomal dominant and characterized especially by brown spots on the skin, neurofibromas of peripheral nerves, and deformities of subcutaneous tissue and bone

Examples of neurofibromatosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Gilberts’ son Nick, one of their five children, died in May 2023 from neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disease that causes non-cancerous tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, likely putting an unimaginable strain on the family. —Giacomo Tognini, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

The charity was formed in honor of Penny Doerge, the daughter of former Paul Wilmot Communications executive Kate Doerge, who died at the age of 16 from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerve pathways throughout the body. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 24 June 2025

The British actor, 40, lives with neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that leads to the growth of tumors in various parts of the body. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 1 May 2025

He was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, in which tumors grow along the nerves, late in 2022, shortly after his father, Denys Mukhtarov, died in combat. —Lynsey Addario, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

neurofibromat-, Greco-Latin stem of neurofibroma + -osis

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neurofibromatosis

• agranulocytosis
• antituberculosis
• arteriosclerosis
• acanthosis
• acidosis
• alkalosis
• amaurosis
• ankylosis
• asbestosis
• brucellosis
• cyanosis
• dermatosis

Medical Definition

neurofibromatosis

noun

neu·​ro·​fi·​bro·​ma·​to·​sis -fī-ˌbrō-mə-ˈtō-səs 

plural neurofibromatoses -ˌsēz 

1

also neurofibromatosis type 1 or neurofibromatosis 1 : an inherited developmental disorder characterized especially by brown spots on the skin that are typically present at birth, neurofibromas of peripheral nerves, and deformities of subcutaneous tissues and bone

—abbreviation NF, NF-1

called also Recklinghausen's disease, von Recklinghausen's disease

2

also neurofibromatosis type 2 or neurofibromatosis 2 : an inherited disorder characterized by bilateral acoustic neuromas developing in childhood or early adulthood that are typically accompanied by other nonmalignant tumors of the central nervous system

—abbreviation NF, NF-2

Note: Both types of neurofibromatosis are inherited as an autosomal dominant trait requiring that one parent pass on a copy of the defective gene on a chromosome other than a sex chromosome. Type 1 is much more common than type 2.