NF2-related Schwannomatosis and other schwannomatosis: an updated genetic and epidemiological study

Objectives: New diagnostic criteria for NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2) were published in 2022. An updated UK prevalence was generated in accordance with these, with an emphasis on the rate of de novo NF2 (a 50% frequency is widely quoted in genetic counselling). The distribution of variant types amongst de novo and familial NF2 cases was also assessed.

Methods: The UK National NF2 database identifies patients meeting updated NF2 criteria from a highly ascertained population cared for by England’s specialized service. Diagnostic prevalence was assessed on 01/02/2023. Molecular analysis of blood and, where possible, tumour specimens for NF2, LZTR1 and SMARCB1 was performed.

Results: 1084 living NF2 patients were identified on prevalence day (equivalent to 1 in 61,332). The proportion with NF2 inherited from an affected parent was only 23% in England. If people without a confirmed molecular diagnosis or bilateral vestibular schwannoma are excluded, the frequency of de novo NF2 remains high (72%). Of the identified de novo cases almost half were mosaic. The most common variant type were nonsense variants, accounting for 173/697 (24.8%) of people with an established variant, but only 18/235 (7.7%) with an inherited NF2 pathogenic variant (p<0.0001). Missense variants had the highest proportion of familial association (56%). The prevalence of LZTR1-related schwannomatosis and SMARCB1-related schwannomatosis was 1 in 527,000 and 1 in 1.1M respectively 8.4-18.4 times lower than NF2.

Conclusions: This work confirms a much higher rate of de novo NF2 than previously reported and highlights the benefits of maintaining patient databases for accurate counselling.