Brain+Surgery

Tuberous Sclerosis What is tuberous sclerosis? Tuberous sclerosis is a disease that causes growths in the skin, brain, kidneys, eyes, heart or lungs. These growths are usually benign (non-cancerous). The first signs of tuberous sclerosis may be seizures and spots on the skin. Some people who have tuberous sclerosis may have learning problems or seizures that are hard to control. Tuberous sclerosis affects every 1 in 6,000 people in the United States. The disorder occurs in both sexes and in people of all races and ethnic groups. Return to top How did my child get this disorder? About half of the time, tuberous sclerosis ... Read Full Story

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form in many different organs, including the brain, eyes, heart, kidney, skin, liver, and lungs. It is like having epilepsy, autism, kidney and heart disease all rolled into one. Anita Bhatia Smith : Three years into our marriage, my husband and I decided we were ready to start a family. When I found out I was pregnant, I was ecstatic . Almost immediately, I had a connection with the little person growing inside of me. When we were told it was a girl, that connection became even deeper. Of course, as all ... Read Full Story

2009 INTERNATIONAL TSC RESEARCH CONFERENCE: FROM DNA TO HUMAN THERAPIES September 23-26, 2009 Indian Lakes Resort Bloomingdale, Illinois The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance presents the 2009 International Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) Research Conference focused on basic, translational and clinical research. Keynote speakers, plenary sessions, selected short talks and a poster session (Thursday evening) will provide a forum for interactions among investigators working in all areas of TSC research. Young investigators submitting abstracts for presentation at the conference can compete for travel awards. Plan now to join us September 23-26, 2009 to discuss new progress in understanding the mechanisms of disease underlying TSC and progress in ... Read Full Story

Autism and Tuberous Sclerosis Max Wiznitzer, MD Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, mxw12@cwru.edu The co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorder and tuberous sclerosis complex has been recognized for decades. The prevalence of tuberous sclerosis complex in the autism spectrum disorder population is 1 to 4%, whereas features of autism spectrum disorder are present in 25 to 50% of individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex. The underlying reason for this association might be a nonspecific disruption of brain function owing to tuberous sclerosis complex, including tuber location, seizures and their effect on brain development, cognitive impairment, a ... Read Full Story

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 19, No. 9, 675-679 (2004) DOI: 10.1177/08830738040190090701 Autism and Tuberous Sclerosis Max Wiznitzer, MD Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, mxw12@cwru.edu The co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorder and tuberous sclerosis complex has been recognized for decades. The prevalence of tuberous sclerosis complex in the autism spectrum disorder population is 1 to 4%, whereas features of autism spectrum disorder are present in 25 to 50% of individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex. The underlying reason for this association might be a nonspecific disruption of brain function owing to tuberous sclerosis complex, including ... Read Full Story