Multiple neurofibromatosis (Von Recklinghausen's disease) / Francis Harbitz.

  • Harbitz, Francis Gottfred, 1867-
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Multiple neurofibromatosis (Von Recklinghausen's disease) / Francis Harbitz. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    were removed; a year after this forty or fifty tumors were removed, and finally, one and a half years later, a long, cord-like nerve swelling and several smaller growths were removed from the forearm. All these growths were found to be fibromata rich in cells. The patient then was free from recurrences and free from pain until his death. The family history was negative. Case B.—In a man who died at the age of 24 years from tuberculosis small tender lumps in one forearm and hand had existed from early childhood. They were most numerous in the median nerve and to a considerable extent had under- gone cystic degeneration. At the age of 17 years several of these tumors were extirpated on account of pain, and were found to be fibromata. After a little more than a year recurrence took place and several similar tumors were removed, but from that time on the patient was free from recurrences. In this case there was also no known heredity. Fig. 3.—Cross-section of optic nerve infiltrated with tumor tissue. Optic nerve to the left; tumor tissue (probably glia tissue) to the right. Both cases illustrate the tendency to rapid growth and to recurrence soon after operation. Great interest is attached to those cases of multiple tumors of nerves which are accompanied by a series of other symptoms, showing that we are dealing with a general disease, or constitutional anomaly, if it be desirable to use that term. This is to be inferred, first, because the dis- ease affects more or less extensive parts of the nervous system, hence is