Table I.
Significant Milestones in the History of NF1
| 1768 | First published English-language description of neurofibromatosis |
| 1882 | Von Recklinghausen published paper on clinical entity, suggesting that tumors originated in the nervous system |
| 1970s–1980s | NF1 and NF2 are recognized as distinct clinical entities |
| 1978 | National NF Foundation (NNFF) is founded (currently known as the Children’s Tumor Foundation) |
| 1979 | NFF establishes first comprehensive NF clinic |
| 1986 | Tibbles and Cohen suggest that the Elephant Man had Proteus syndrome instead of NF1 |
| 1987 | F1 locus mapped to chromosome 17 |
| Diagnostic criteria for NF1 developed at NIH Consensus Conference | |
| 1990 | NF1 gene cloned |
| 2000 | Molecular testing for NF1 identifies mutation in more than 95% of individuals meeting diagnostic criteria |