Friday, January 25, 2013

What is Von Hippel-Lindau Disease

Von Hipple-Lindau is called VHL in its abbreviated form. This is very rare disease and it is because of genetics disorders in many parts of the body. This genetic disorder results in abnormal growth of tumors in different parts of the body.

This is a serious disease and if not treated properly then it may lead to complete blindness or brain damage. So a very careful handling of such patient is required. The name of the disease is after the famous German ophthalmologist Eugen Von Hipple who first noticed angiomas in eye of a patient in 1904. And later Arvid Lindua further stated the angiomas of the cerebellum and spine in year 1927. There are few types of tumors that can be developed like the mentioned below;

Development of tumors:

  • The tumors that are produced in nervous system are called central nervous system (CNS) is benign and is made of nest of blood vessels which are called hemangioblastomas. Hemangioblastomas may possibly develop in the brain or retina of the eye. As this is related to nervous system, so the chances are in all parts related to nervous system like brain, eye etc.
  • The tumors can also be developed in adrenal glands.
  • The tumors can also be developed in kidney.
  • The tumor may possibly develop in the pancreas.

Symptoms of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)

There are certain symptoms of this disease like the mentioned below;
  • Patient can feel headache
  • Patient can feel dizziness
  • Patient with such tumors can have visibility problems
  • Patients with tumors can realize of weakness of the limbs
  • Such infections also increase the chance of cancer building as compared to normal persons

Treatment of Von Hippel-Lindau:

The location and size of the tumor varies in different patients. And there are treatments of this disease but nature of such treatment depends on the tumor of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL). Although the cysts or tumor are not so big that they directly affect the nervous system or brain but it can cause the blockage in flow of cerebrospinal fluid in nervous system in long run. So that is why it is essential to treat such at early stages. The most common treatment is the surgery to remove the cyst or tumor before it is dangerous for the nervous system or vision of the patient.

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