[Seventy-seven-year old patient with Recklinghausen's disease (neurofibromatosis)]

In this article, the case of a 77-year old patient who went to his physician complaining of increasing dizziness, unsteady gait and backaches is described. During the physical examination, a monstrous skin tumor was found on the back of the patient. MRI showed cerebellopontine angle tumors in the area of the trigeminal nerve and the beginnings of hydrocephalus. A diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 was made on this basis. This disease, which is also called Recklinghausen's disease, belongs to a group of diseases called phakomatosis. It can develop due to the inheritance of an autosomal dominant trait, but can also arise through new mutations. Treatment varies with the symptoms. In the present case, the tumor was surgically removed without complications.