USC Neurogenetics Program

We monitor and treat genetic nervous system disorders, including inherited and spontaneous mutations.

USC Neurogenetics Program

We monitor and treat genetic nervous system disorders, including inherited and spontaneous mutations.

Advanced Treatment for Genetic Conditions

We closely monitor your health if you have been diagnosed with certain diseases of the nervous system that occur due to family genetics or by spontaneous mutation of a gene. We offer advanced treatment to you if intervention becomes necessary.
As an integral component in the continuum of care for patients who were diagnosed with neurogenetic conditions as children, our program extends care to patients as they move into adulthood. We also provide care to patients who have been diagnosed as adults.

Conditions treated in the program include neurofibromatosis 1, neurofibromatosis 2, Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Li–Fraumeni syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Noonan syndrome and Costello syndrome. Patients who have these conditions can be symptom free but can also be susceptible to a variety of malignant or benign tumors, including neurofibromas, astrocytomas, papillomas, acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, many of which can affect different parts of the body.

Comprehensive Care for Neurogenetic Illnesses

Surgery is the preferred method of treatment for tumors arising from these conditions. If a tumor does occur, it is important that diagnosis and treatment occur quickly. Therefore, our team follows each patient on an ongoing basis. We work in concert with members of the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at USC, which offers a unique breadth and scope of multidisciplinary treatment and care for adolescents and young adults.

In cases where a tumor is in a location in the body that makes surgery impossible or inadvisable, we are able to provide radiation therapy as an alternate treatment. We offer the most advanced technologies in radiosurgery — such as TrueBeam™ Stx — in one location, providing our patients with the best possible course of treatment.

Additionally, our researchers at USC are dedicated to finding innovative methods of care for each individual patient as we continue to deepen our understanding of the genetics responsible for these conditions. Patients can also be considered for inclusion in clinical trials, helping to accelerate the development of new and better diagnostic and treatment tools.

Conditions We Treat

The USC Neurogenetics Multidisciplinary Program treats patients who have developed certain conditions due to family genetics or due to a spontaneous mutation of a gene.

These conditions include:

Costello syndrome – A rare disorder that affects many parts of the body and increases the risk of the formation of benign and malignant tumors.
Li–Fraumeni syndrome – A rare, hereditary disorder that increases cancer risk in patients.
Neurofibromatosis 1 – An inherited disorder in which nerve tissue tumors form in the skin, bottom layer of skin, or cranial or spinal root nerves.
Neurofibromatosis 2 – A genetic disorder in which tumors form on the nerves of the brain and spine, or the central nervous system.
Noonan syndrome – An inherited disease that causes many parts of the body to develop abnormally.
Tuberous sclerosis – A group of two genetic disorders affecting multiple organs that cause tumors to grow.
Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome – An inherited disorder characterized by tumors and cysts forming in different areas of the body.

Our expert physicians and staff understand how these conditions affect our patients’ quality of life, and we ensure that each patient is given the individualized treatment they need. Each patient’s health is continually monitored and followed, so that if they develop a tumor because of these conditions, our doctors can quickly react and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Treatments We Offer

Patients can go years with no problems or symptoms, but some will develop tumors in different areas of their body, including neurofibromas, astrocytomas, papillomas, acoustic neuromas and meningiomas. Therefore, monitoring is essential.
Treatment is personalized to each patient’s need, whether that means surgical removal of the tumor, or radiosurgery when traditional surgery is not a good option. We also offer you the possibility of being placed into a clinical trial, which can provide you with innovative and developing treatments.

Surgical treatments:

Craniotomy – this procedure involves removal of a portion of the skull to allow the surgeon access to a brain tumor for removal.
Epilepsy surgery – for patients with tuberous sclerosis who are having seizures, epilepsy surgery may be considered.
Laminectomy – removal of a portion of the lamina (the vertebral bone) allows surgeons to reach and resect a spinal tumor.
Retrosigmoid or translabyrinthine craniotomy – patients with an acoustic neuroma may be eligible for one of these procedures, in which an incision is made behind the ear to access and remove the tumor. Translabyrinthine craniotomy also involves the removal of the mastoid bone and a portion of the inner ear bone in order to access the tumor.

Nonsurgical treatments:

TrueBeam™ Stx – this radiosurgery system uses advanced imaging and respiration synchronization to continually adjust the shape of the radiation beam to deliver a high dose a tumor, sparing healthy tissue.

Patient Resources

Why Choose Us for Neurogenetic Care

We integrate advanced diagnostic techniques, modern treatments and the latest research to provide the most comprehensive care for memory disorders.

We lead research studies to give you access to advanced treatments. Our research includes neurology clinical trials.

We are consistently ranked as a top neurology and neurosurgery hospital by U.S. News and World Report.

We are consistently recognized among the top three hospitals in metro Los Angeles and the top 10 hospitals in California, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals rankings.