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Copyright 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005
Synonyms of Tuberous Sclerosis
- Bourneville Pringle Syndrome
- Epiloia
- Phakomatosis TS
- TSC1
- TSC2
- Tuberose Sclerosis
- Tuberous Sclerosis-1
- Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
Disorder Subdivisions
General Discussion
Tuberous sclerosis is a rare genetic multisystem disorder that is typically apparent shortly after birth. The disorder may be characterized by episodes of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain (seizures); mental retardation; distinctive skin abnormalities (lesions); and benign (noncancerous), tumor-like nodules (hamartomas) of the brain, certain regions of the eyes (e.g., retinas), the heart, the kidneys, the lungs, or other tissues or organs. In addition, many affected individuals may have cyst-like areas within certain skeletal regions, particularly bones of the fingers and toes (phalanges). Characteristic skin lesions include sharply defined areas of decreased skin coloration (hypopigmentation) that may develop during infancy and relatively small reddish nodules that may appear on the cheeks and nose beginning at approximately age four. These reddish lesions eventually enlarge, blend together (coalesce), and develop a wart-like appearance (sebaceous adenomas). Additional skin lesions may also develop, including flat, "coffee-colored" areas of increased skin pigmentation (café-au-lait spots); benign, fibrous nodules (fibromas) arising around or beneath the nails; or rough, elevated, "knobby" lesions (shagreen patches) on the lower back.
Tuberous sclerosis results from changes (mutations) in a gene or genes that may occur spontaneously (sporadically) for unknown reasons or be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Most cases represent new (sporadic) gene mutations, with no family history of the disease. Mutations of at least two different genes are known to cause tuberous sclerosis. One gene (TSC1) has been mapped to the long arm (q) of chromosome 9 (9q34). A second gene for the disease (TSC2) is located on the short arm (p) of chromosome 16 (16p13.3). It remains unclear whether some sporadic and familial cases of the disease may be caused by mutations of other, currently unidentified genes (genetic heterogeneity).
Organizations related to Tuberous Sclerosis
- Arc (a national organization on mental retardation)
1010 Wayne Ave
Suite 650
Silver Spring MD 20910
Phone #: 301-565-3842
800 #: 800-433-5255
e-mail: info@thearc.org
Home page: http://www.thearc.org/
- Cancer.Net
American Society of Clinical Oncology
2318 Mill Road
Suite 800
Alexandria VA 22314
Phone #: 571-483-1780
800 #: 888-651-3038
e-mail: contactus@cancer.net
Home page: http://www.cancer.net/patient
- Epilepsy Foundation
8301 Professional Place
Landover MD 20785
Phone #: 301-459-3700
800 #: 800-332-1000
e-mail: info@efa.org
Home page: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: ordr@od.nih.gov
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx
- Hemispherectomy Foundation
P.O. Box 1239
Aledo TX 76008
Phone #: 817-307-9880
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@hemifoundation.org
Home page: http://hemifoundation.intuitwebsites.com/welcome.html
- LAM Treatment Alliance, Inc.
87 Garden Street
Cambridge MA 02138
Phone #: 617-460-7339
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@lamtreatmentalliance.org
Home page: http://www.LAMTreatmentAlliance.org
- MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
- Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles CA 90024
Phone #: 310-264-0826
800 #: N/A
e-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Home page: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains NY 10605
Phone #: 914-997-4488
800 #: 888-663-4637
e-mail: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Home page: http://www.marchofdimes.com
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda MD 20824
Phone #: 301-496-5751
800 #: 800-352-9424
e-mail: me20t@nih.gov
Home page: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
- Rare Cancer Alliance
1649 North Pacana Way
Green Valley AZ 85614
Phone #: 520-625-5495
800 #: --
e-mail: sharon.lane@rare-cancer.org
Home page: http://www.rare-cancer.org
- Rothberg Institute, Inc
530 Whitfield St.
Guilford CT 06437
Phone #: 203-458-7100
800 #: --
e-mail: jfverney@childhooddiseases.org
Home page: http://www.childhooddiseases.org
- Sjældne Diagnoser / Rare Disorders Denmark
Frederiksholms Kanal 2, 3rd Floor
Copenhagen K None 1220
Phone #: 45 -33 -14 00 10
800 #: N/A
e-mail: mail@sjaeldnediagnoser
Home page: http://www.raredisorders.dk
- Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
801 Roeder Rd
Suite 750
Silver Spring MD 20910-4467
Phone #: 301-562-9890
800 #: 800-225-6872
e-mail: info@tsalliance.org
Home page: http://www.tsalliance.org
- Tuberous Sclerosis Association
PO Box 13938
Birmingham Intl B45 5BF
Phone #: 44--056-02420809
800 #: --
e-mail: development-support@tuberous-sclerosis.org
Home page: http://www.tuberous-sclerosis.org
- Tuberous Sclerosis Canada (Sclerose Tubereuse)
92 Caplan Ave
Suite 125
Barrie
Ontario Intl L4N 0Z7
Phone #: --
800 #: 800-347-0252
e-mail: keepsinging@sympatico.ca
Home page: http://www.tscst.org
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