Clinical Diagnosis

The clinical diagnosis of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is established in:

• A simplex case (i.e., an individual with no known family history of VHL syndrome) presenting with two or more characteristic lesions (e.g., two or more hemangioblastomas of the retina or brain or a single hemangioblastoma in association with a visceral manifestation such as kidney or pancreatic cysts; renal cell carcinoma; adrenal or extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas, and, less commonly, endolymphatic sac tumors, papillary cystadenomas of the epididymis or broad ligament, or neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas);

• An individual with a positive family history of VHL syndrome in whom one or more of the following disease manifestations is present: retinal angioma, spinal or cerebellar hemangioblastoma, pheochromocytoma, multiple pancreatic cysts, epididymal or broad ligament cystadenomas, multiple renal cysts, or renal cell carcinoma before age 60 years.

The following tests are used to establish the diagnosis and determine the extent of clinical manifestations:

• CT scan or MRI to establish the presence of:

  • CNS tumors

  • Pheochromocytomas that exhibit high signal intensity on T₂-weighted MRI, which may help differentiate them from adrenal cortical nodules

  • Endolymphatic sac tumors identified with high signal intensity with T₁ imaging on MRI as a mass on the posterior wall of the petrous part of the temporal bone

• Ultrasound examination for evaluation of the epididymis and broad ligament, and for less expensive screening of the kidneys

• Radioiodine-labeled MIBG for the evaluation of suspected extra-adrenal tumors

• 18F DOPA whole-body PET, which shows promise as a sensitive and specific method for detection of pheochromocytomas [Hoegerle et al 2002, Kaji et al 2007]

• Measurement of urinary catecholamine metabolites (VMA, metanephrine, and total catecholamine) to detect elevations that may suggest pheochromocytoma even in the absence of hypertension

Molecular Genetic Testing

Gene. VHL is the only gene in which mutation is known to cause VHL syndrome.

Clinical testing

• Sequence analysis. Sequence analysis of all three exons can be used to detect point mutations and small deletions or insertions in VHL, accounting for approximately 72% of VHL mutations [Stolle et al 1998].

• Deletion/duplication analysis. Various methods can be used to detect partial- or whole-gene deletions, accounting for approximately 28% of all VHL mutations [Stolle et al 1998, Hoebeeck et al 2005, Banks et al 2006].

Table 1. Summary of Molecular Genetic Testing Used in VHL Syndrome

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Gene Symbol	Test Method	Mutations Detected	Mutation Detection Frequency by Test Method 1	Test Availability
VHL	Sequence analysis	Sequence variants 2	~72%	Clinical
	Deletion / duplication analysis 3	Partial- or whole- gene deletion	~28%

Test Availability refers to availability in the GeneTests Laboratory Directory. GeneReviews designates a molecular genetic test as clinically available only if the test is listed in the GeneTests Laboratory Directory by either a US CLIA-licensed laboratory or a non-US clinical laboratory. GeneTests does not verify laboratory-submitted information or warrant any aspect of a laboratory's licensure or performance. Clinicians must communicate directly with the laboratories to verify information.

1. The ability of the test method used to detect a mutation that is present in the indicated gene

2. Examples of mutations detected by sequence analysis may include small intragenic deletions/insertions and missense, nonsense, and splice site mutations.

3. Testing that detects deletions/duplications not readily detectable by sequence analysis of genomic DNA; a variety of methods including quantitative Southern blot analysis, FISH, quantitative PCR, real-time PCR, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), or array GH may be used.

Interpretation of test results. For issues to consider in interpretation of sequence analysis results, click here.

Testing Strategy

To confirm the diagnosis in a proband

• Molecular genetic testing is indicated in all individuals known to have or suspected of having VHL syndrome [Rasmussen et al 2006].

• Since the detection rate for VHL mutations is nearly 100%, molecular testing may also be used to evaluate individuals with a single VHL-associated tumor and a negative family history of the disease.

• For individuals with manifestations of VHL syndrome who do not meet strict diagnostic criteria and who do not have a detectable VHL germline mutation, somatic mosaicism for a de novo VHL disease-causing mutation should be considered [Sgambati et al 2000]. In some instances, molecular genetic testing of the offspring of such individuals reveals a VHL mutation.

Predictive testing for at-risk asymptomatic adult family members requires prior identification of the disease-causing mutation in the family.

Prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for at-risk pregnancies require prior identification of the disease-causing mutation in the family.

Note: It is the policy of GeneReviews to include clinical uses of testing available from laboratories listed in the GeneTests Laboratory Directory; inclusion does not necessarily reflect the endorsement of such uses by the author(s), editor(s), or reviewer(s).

Genetically Related (Allelic) Disorders

VHL type 2C. Some individuals with familial pheochromocytoma or non-familial bilateral pheochromocytoma may have mutations in VHL without the presence of the characteristic eye and CNS tumors (VHL type 2C) [Abbott et al 2006].

Chuvash polycythemia. Individuals with Chuvash polycythemia, an autosomal recessive disorder endemic to the mid-Volga region in central Russia, have elevated erythropoietin levels, and most are homozygous for a p.Arg200Trp mutation in VHL [Ang et al 2002]. Other individuals outside the mid-Volga region with congenital polycythemia, some as compound heterozygotes for other VHL mutations, have been found to harbor the p.Arg200Trp mutation [Pastore et al 2003]. The Chuvash mutation has subsequently been found in individuals of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Mutations in VHL may be responsible for as much as 17% of congenital erythrocytosis; haplotype analysis suggests that the p.Arg200Trp mutation arose independently in at least two populations [Cario et al 2005]. VHL mutation analysis is indicated in all persons with congenital erythrocytosis regardless of ethnicity.

Although thrombosis and/or hemorrhage have occurred in many, none of the affected individuals or their heterozygous relatives thus far described have developed VHL-related tumors [Gordeuk et al 2004].

Somatic mutations. Acquired mutations in VHL may give rise to sporadic VHL-type tumors (i.e., clear cell RCC and hemangioblastoma) [Iliopoulos 2001, Kim & Kaelin 2004] without other associated tumors characteristic of the heritable disease.

Natural History

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is characterized by hemangioblastomas of the brain, spinal cord, and retina; renal cysts and renal cell carcinoma; pheochromocytoma; and endolymphatic sac tumors. Some clustering of tumors occurs, resulting in the designation of specific VHL syndrome phenotypes. The manifestations and severity are highly variable both within and between families, even among those with the same mutation.

Hemangioblastoma. CNS hemangioblastoma is the prototypic lesion of VHL syndrome [Catapano et al 2005, Glasker 2005]. Roughly 80% develop in the brain and 20% in the spinal cord. Within the brain the vast majority are infratentorial, mainly in the cerebellar hemispheres. Multiple CNS tumors, occurring either synchronously or metachronously, are common. Spinal hemangioblastomas are generally intradural, most commonly occur in the cervical or thoracic regions, and occasionally may involve the entire cord. Rarely, peripheral nerve hemangiomas may develop [Giannini et al 1998].

Clinical symptoms depend upon the site of the tumor. With infratentorial tumors, headache, vomiting, and gait disturbances or ataxia predominate. With tumors above the tentorium, symptoms depend on the location of the lesion. Hemangioblastomas are generally slow growing, but on occasion include rapidly enlarging cysts that produce hydrocephaly with papilledema. Spinal hemangioblastomas usually present with pain, but sensory and motor loss may develop with cord compression. Most symptom-producing spinal hemangioblastomas are associated with syringomyelia [Wanebo et al 2003].

Some hemangioblastomas are not symptomatic and are discovered only with MRI. CNS hemangioblastoma has even been identified on fetal ultrasound examination [Diguet et al 2002].

Retinal hemangioblastoma. These retinal lesions, sometimes called retinal angiomas, are histologically identical to CNS hemangioblastomas. They may be the initial manifestations of VHL syndrome. About 70% of affected individuals are identified as having retinal angiomas [Webster et al 1999, Kreusel 2005] with mean age of about 25 years [Dollfus et al 2002]. The tumors are most often located in the temporal periphery of the retina with feeder and draining vessels going to and from the optic disc. However, they may develop in the posterior pole (1%) and optic disc (8%). They may be asymptomatic and be detected on routine ophthalmoscopy. Others present with a visual field defect or a loss of visual activity resulting from retinal detachment, exudation, or hemorrhage.

The number of retinal angiomas does not appear to increase with age, but the probability of vision loss increases with age [Kreusel et al 2006].

Tests of retinal function may be abnormal even in the presence of quiescent retinal angiomas [Kreusel et al 2006].

Renal lesions. Multiple renal cysts are common in VHL syndrome [Lonser et al 2003].

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), specifically of the clear cell type developing either within a cyst or in the surrounding parenchyma occurs in about 40% of affected individuals, and is a leading cause of mortality in VHL syndrome.

Pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytoma may present with sustained or episodic hypertension or be totally asymptomatic, being detected incidentally by an abdominal imaging procedure. Pheochromocytomas are usually located in one or both adrenal glands, but may present anywhere along the sympathetic axis in the abdomen or thorax (paragangliomas) or head and neck (chemodectomas) [Schimke et al 1998]. They are normally greater than 2 cm in size.

Pheochromocytomas are usually benign, but malignant behavior has been reported [Chen et al 2001, Jimenez et al 2009].

Pancreatic lesions. Most pancreatic lesions are simple cysts and are frequently multiple. They rarely cause endocrine or exocrine insufficiency unless extensive. Occasionally, cysts in the head of the pancreas cause biliary obstruction.

Rarely, neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas develop. They are usually not hormonally active and are slow growing, but more malignant behavior has been observed, particularly in tumors greater than 3 cm [Marcos et al 2002, Corcos et al 2008].

Endolymphatic sac tumors. The endolymphatic sac and duct are ectodermal extensions of the membranous labyrinth. Tumors of the sac cause deafness of varying severity, often severe to profound and of sudden onset [Choo et al 2004, Kim et al 2005]. Less commonly, vertigo or tinnitus is the presenting complaint. Large tumors can involve other cranial nerves. Endolymphatic sac tumors are seen in approximately 10% of individuals with VHL syndrome, and in some instances the associated uni- or bilateral hearing loss is the initial feature of the disease [Kim et al 2005]. In rare cases, the tumors may be malignant [Muzumdar et al 2006].

Epididymal tumors. Epididymal or papillary cystadenomas are relatively common in males with VHL syndrome. They rarely cause problems, unless bilateral, in which case they may result in infertility. The equivalent, much less common, lesion in women is a papillary cystadenoma of the broad ligament.

Genotype-Phenotype Correlations

Four general VHL disease phenotypes have been suggested based on the likelihood of pheochromocytoma or renal cell carcinoma.

VHL type 1 is characterized by a low risk for pheochromocytoma. Truncating mutations or missense mutations that are predicted to grossly disrupt the folding of the VHL protein [Stebbins et al 1999] are associated with VHL type 1.

VHL type 2 is characterized by a high risk for pheochromocytoma. Individuals with VHL type 2 almost invariably have a missense mutation. Some missense mutations seem to correlate with a specific type 2 VHL phenotype [Weirich et al 2002, Sanso et al 2004, Abbott et al 2006, Knauth et al 2006]. (See also Molecular Genetics). Missense mutations that lead to pheochromocytoma with a low (or no) risk of RCC (types 2A and 2C) may encode a VHL protein that retains the ability to ubiquinate (and so down-regulate) HIF1α in the presence of molecular oxygen to a greater degree than mutations that result in VHL syndrome with pheochromocytoma and RCC (type 2B). Furthermore, mutant pVHL may predispose to pheochromocytoma by altering the balance among a group of proteins in a molecular pathway that controls apoptosis of sympatho-adrenal precursor cells during development. Such cells may be at increased risk of developing into pheochromocytomas at a later stage [Lee et al 2005, Kaelin 2007].

VHL type 2 is further subdivided:

• Type 2A. Low risk for renal cell carcinoma

• Type 2B. High risk for renal carcinoma

• Type 2C. Risk for pheochromocytoma only

Several groups report a reduced risk for renal cell carcinoma in individuals with a deletion of VHL [Cybulski et al 2002, Maranchie et al 2004, McNeill et al 2009]. In particular, individuals with a complete or partial deletion that extends 5’ of VHL to include C3orf10 have a significantly reduced risk of renal cell carcinoma [Maranchie et al 2004, McNeill et al 2009]. This genotype may constitute a distinct phenotype, VHL type 1B, characterized by a reduced risk for both renal cell carcinoma and pheochromocytoma.

Also, some individuals within families with apparent type 2C disease have developed hemangioblastomas [Neumann & Eng 2009].

Penetrance

VHL mutations are highly penetrant. Almost all individuals who have a mutation in VHL express disease-related symptoms by age 65 years.

Anticipation

Anticipation is not observed with VHL syndrome.

Nomenclature

Obsolete terms for VHL syndrome include: angiophakomatosis retinae et cerebelli, familial cerebello-retinal angiomatosis, cerebelloretinal hemangioblastomatosis, Hippel disease, Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Lindau disease, and retinocerebellar angiomatosis [Molino et al 2006].

Prevalence

The incidence of VHL syndrome is thought to be about one in 36,000 births with an estimated de novo mutation rate of 4.4x10^-6 gametes per generation [Maher et al 1991].

Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis

To establish the extent of disease in an individual diagnosed with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, the following evaluations are recommended:

• Neurologic history and physical examination for evidence of CNS or peripheral nerve hemangioblastomatosis

• Ophthalmologic evaluation for retinal hemangioblastomas

• Audiologic evaluation for hearing loss associated with endolymphatic sac tumors

• Blood pressure determination, supplemented by measurement of urinary catecholamine metabolites after age five years in those families with a high incidence of pheochromocytoma

• Abdominal ultrasound examination after age 16 years. Suspicious lesions in the kidney, adrenal gland, or pancreas should be evaluated by more sophisticated techniques, such as CT scan or MRI.

A baseline MRI of the brain and spine in young adulthood has been suggested by some; however, this procedure is expensive and the overall value in an asymptomatic individual remains questionable.

Treatment of Manifestations

Nervous system hemangioblastoma

• Some advocate early surgical removal of both symptomatic and asymptomatic CNS lesions, while others follow asymptomatic lesions with yearly imaging studies. Most CNS lesions eventually require intervention.

• Preoperative arterial embolization may be indicated, especially for extensive spinal tumors.

• Gamma knife surgery may be useful with small tumors or those in inoperable sites. While this technique may reduce the size of the solid tumor, it does not seem to prevent cyst formation. Overall operative mortality is roughly 10%, with higher figures for brain stem tumors [Lonser et al 2003].

• It is recommended that spinal lesions be completely removed. Paraplegia is the major complication following removal of spinal tumors.

Retinal hemangioblastoma

• Most ophthalmologists favor prospective treatment of retinal, but not optic nerve, angiomas to avoid blindness, although spontaneous regression has occurred.

• Therapeutic modalities used to treat retinal hemangioblastomas include diathermy, xenon, laser, and cryocoagulation, with variable degrees of success depending upon the location, size, and number of lesions. Recurrent tumors have been noted, even after many years, but some may be new tumors in the same general area rather than recurrent disease.

• External beam radiotherapy has been shown to be useful when standard therapy has not prevented progression [Raja et al 2004].

Renal cell carcinoma

• Early surgery is the best option for renal cell carcinoma. Depending on the size and location of the tumor, nephron-sparing or partial nephrectomy may be possible without compromising survival [Grubb et al 2005].

• Cryoablation is being increasingly used for small lesions or in individuals at high risk for a surgical procedure [Shingleton & Sewell 2002].

• Renal transplantation has been successful in individuals in whom bilateral nephrectomy has been necessary. It is imperative to evaluate any living, related potential donor for VHL syndrome and to exclude those found to have VHL syndrome.

Pheochromocytomas

• Pheochromocytomas should be surgically removed. Laparoscopic approaches have been shown to be effective.

• Preoperative treatment with alpha-adrenergic blockade for seven to ten days is appropriate even in individuals with no known hypertension.

Endolymphatic sac tumors. Consideration of surgical removal of these slow-growing tumors must include discussion of the possible complication of total deafness. Early intervention with small tumors has been shown to preserve both hearing and vestibular function [Kim et al 2005].

Epididymal or broad ligament papillary cyst adenomas. These generally do not require surgery.

Prevention of Secondary Manifestations

Early detection through surveillance and removal of tumors may prevent or minimize deficits such as hearing loss, vision loss, and neurologic symptoms.

Surveillance

Individuals with known VHL syndrome, individuals without clinical manifestations but known to have a VHL disease-causing mutation, and at-risk relatives who have not undergone DNA-based testing need regular clinical monitoring by a physician or medical team familiar with the spectrum of VHL syndrome.

Monitoring includes the following:

• Annual ophthalmologic screening, preferably beginning before age five years [Kreusel et al 2006]

• Annual blood pressure monitoring supplemented by measurement of urinary catecholamine metabolites beginning at age five years in those families with a high incidence of pheochromocytoma

• Annual abdominal ultrasound examination beginning at age 16 years. Suspicious lesions in the kidney, adrenal gland, or pancreas should be evaluated by more sophisticated techniques, such as CT scan or MRI.

• Audiologic evaluation of individuals with any recognized hearing deficit, followed by T₁-weighted MRI of the temporal bone if abnormalities are found [Kim et al 2005]

Agents/Circumstances to Avoid

Tobacco products should be avoided since they are considered a risk factor for kidney cancer.

Testing of Relatives at Risk

Use of molecular genetic testing for early identification of at-risk family members improves diagnostic certainty and reduces the need for costly screening procedures in those at-risk family members who have not inherited the disease-causing mutation [Priesemann et al 2006]. The American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) identifies VHL syndrome as a Group 1 disorder, i.e., a hereditary syndrome for which genetic testing is considered part of the standard management for at-risk family members [American Society of Clinical Oncology 2003].

Early recognition of manifestations of VHL syndrome may allow for timely intervention and improved outcome; thus, clinical surveillance of asymptomatic at-risk individuals (including children) for early manifestations of VHL syndrome is appropriate.

See Genetic Counseling for issues related to testing of at-risk relatives for genetic counseling purposes.

Therapies Under Investigation

Certain VHL mutations fail to down-regulate HIFα, leading to overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). An intravitreal VEGF receptor inhibitor, ranibizumab, has been used with some success in individuals with retinal hemangioblastomas who have either failed local therapy or whose lesions are not amenable to local therapy [Wong et al 2008]. Stabilization of some, but not all, CNS hemangioblastomas has also been demonstrated [Madhusudan et al 2004].

A tyrosine kinase inhibitor, sunitinab, has had some utility in the rare unresectable malignant pheochromocytomas, but simple surgical excision is clearly preferable for the usual benign tumors [Jimenez et al 2009].

Sardi et al [2009] reported three-year stabilization of previously progressive multifocal spinal hemangioblastomas with thalidomide.

Search ClinicalTrials.gov for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Other

Genetics clinics, staffed by genetics professionals, provide information for individuals and families regarding the natural history, treatment, mode of inheritance, and genetic risks to other family members as well as information about available consumer-oriented resources. See the GeneTests Clinic Directory.

See Consumer Resources for disease-specific and/or umbrella support organizations for this disorder. These organizations have been established for individuals and families to provide information, support, and contact with other affected individuals.

Mode of Inheritance

Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL syndrome) is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

Risk to Family Members

Parents of a proband

• About 80% of individuals diagnosed with VHL syndrome have an affected parent.

• De novo mutations of VHL are estimated to occur in about 20% of probands.

• Recommendations for the evaluation of parents of a proband with an apparent de novo mutation include molecular genetic testing if the VHL disease-causing mutation in the proband is known. If the disease-causing VHL mutation in the proband is not known, ophthalmologic screening and abdominal ultrasound evaluation, at a minimum, should be offered to both parents.

Note: The family history may appear to be negative because of failure to recognize the disorder in family members, reduced penetrance, early death of the parent before the onset of symptoms, or late onset of the disease in the affected parent. If the parent is the individual in whom the mutation first occurred, (s)he may have somatic mosaicism for the mutation and may be mildly/minimally affected.

Sibs of a proband

• The risk of VHL syndrome to sibs depends upon the genetic status of the parents.

• If a parent of a proband is clinically affected or has a disease-causing VHL mutation, the sibs of the proband are at 50% risk of inheriting the altered gene.

• If neither parent has the disease-causing VHL mutation identified in the proband, the sibs have a small risk of VHL syndrome because of the possibility of germline mosaicism in one parent.

• Mosaicism has been described; the incidence is not known [Sgambati et al 2000].

Offspring of a proband. Each offspring of an affected individual has a 50% risk of inheriting the VHL mutation; the degree of clinical severity is not predictable.

Other family members. The risk to other family members depends upon their biological relationship to the affected family member and can be determined by pedigree analysis and/or molecular genetic testing.

Related Genetic Counseling Issues

See Management, Testing of Relatives at Risk for information on testing at-risk relatives for the purpose of early diagnosis and treatment.

Genetic cancer risk assessment and counseling. For comprehensive descriptions of the medical, psychosocial, and ethical ramifications of identifying at-risk individuals through cancer risk assessment with or without molecular genetic testing, see Elements of Cancer Genetics Risk Assessment and Counseling (part of PDQ ^®, National Cancer Institute).

Testing at-risk asymptomatic family members. Molecular genetic testing of at-risk family members is appropriate in order to determine the need for continued clinical surveillance. Interpretation of molecular genetic test results is most accurate when a disease-causing germline mutation has been identified in an affected family member. Those who have the disease-causing mutation require regular surveillance, whereas family members who have not inherited the disease-causing mutation and their offspring are not at increased risk.

Because early detection of at-risk individuals affects medical management, testing of asymptomatic individuals during childhood is beneficial [American Society of Clinical Oncology 2003]. As ophthalmologic screening for those at risk for VHL syndrome begins as early as possible, certainly before age five years, molecular genetic testing may be considered in young children. Molecular genetic testing may be performed earlier if the results would alter the medical management of the child.

Parents often want to know the genetic status of their children prior to initiating screening in order to avoid unnecessary procedures in a child who has not inherited the altered gene. Special consideration should be given to education of the children and their parents prior to genetic testing. A plan should be established for the manner in which results are to be given to the parents and their children.

The use of molecular genetic testing for determining the genetic status of presumably at-risk relatives when a family member with a clinical diagnosis of VHL syndrome is not available for testing is less straightforward. Such test results need to be interpreted with caution. A positive test result signals the presence of a VHL disease-causing mutation in the at-risk family member and indicates that the same molecular genetic testing method can be used to assess the genetic status of other at-risk family members. However, a negative test for a VHL mutation under such circumstances suggests one of the following possibilities:

• The at-risk family member has not inherited a VHL disease-causing mutation.

• The familial VHL mutation may not be detectable by the assays used.

• The clinical diagnosis of VHL syndrome in the affected family member is questionable.

In this situation, the presumably at-risk family member has a small, but finite, residual risk of having inherited a disease-causing allele (i.e., VHL syndrome or other hereditary disorder). In counseling such individuals, careful consideration should be given to the strength of the clinical diagnosis of VHL syndrome in the affected family member, the relationship of the at-risk individual to the affected family member, the perceived risk of an undetected VHL (or other gene) mutation, and the potential need for some form of continued clinical surveillance.

Other issues to consider. It is recommended that physicians ordering VHL molecular genetic testing and individuals considering undergoing testing understand the risks, benefits, and limitations of the testing prior to sending a sample to a laboratory. A study demonstrated that for almost one-third of individuals assessed for familial adenomatous polyposis, an autosomal dominant colon cancer syndrome, the physician misinterpreted the test results [Giardiello et al 1997]. Referral to a genetic counselor and/or a center in which testing is routinely offered is recommended.

Considerations in families with an apparent de novo mutation. When neither parent of a proband with an autosomal dominant condition has the disease-causing mutation or clinical evidence of the disorder, it is likely that the proband has a de novo mutation. However, possible non-medical explanations including alternate paternity or maternity (e.g., with assisted reproduction) or undisclosed adoption could also be explored.

Family planning

• The optimal time for determination of genetic risk and genetic counseling regarding prenatal testing is before pregnancy. Similarly, decisions about testing to determine the genetic status of at-risk asymptomatic family members are best made before pregnancy.

• It is appropriate to offer genetic counseling (including discussion of potential risks to offspring and reproductive options) to young adults who are affected or at risk.

DNA banking is the storage of DNA (typically extracted from white blood cells) for possible future use. Because it is likely that testing methodology and our understanding of genes, mutations, and diseases will improve in the future, consideration should be given to banking DNA of affected individuals. See for a list of laboratories offering DNA banking.

Prenatal Testing

Prenatal diagnosis for pregnancies at 50% risk is possible by analysis of DNA extracted from fetal cells obtained by amniocentesis usually performed at about 15 to 18 weeks' gestation or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) at about ten to 12 weeks' gestation. The disease-causing allele of an affected family member must be identified before prenatal testing in order to ensure definitive interpretation of the test result.

Note: Gestational age is expressed as menstrual weeks calculated either from the first day of the last normal menstrual period or by ultrasound measurements.

Requests for prenatal testing for conditions such as VHL syndrome that do not affect intellect and have some treatment available are not common. Differences in perspective may exist among medical professionals and in families regarding the use of prenatal testing, particularly if the testing is being considered for the purpose of pregnancy termination rather than early diagnosis. Although most centers would consider decisions about prenatal testing to be the choice of the parents, discussion of these issues is appropriate.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has been successfully used in pregnancies at risk for VHL syndrome [Rechitsky et al 2002, Simpson et al 2005] and may be available for families in which the disease-causing mutation has been identified. For laboratories offering PGD, see .

Note: It is the policy of GeneReviews to include clinical uses of testing available from laboratories listed in the GeneTests Laboratory Directory; inclusion does not necessarily reflect the endorsement of such uses by the author(s), editor(s), or reviewer(s).

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Suggested Reading

1. Capodano AM (1998) Von-Hippel Lindau. Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics Oncology and Haematology. Updated 2001, Richard S. Available at atlasgeneticsoncology.org. Accessed 12-17-09.
2. Linehan WM, Zbar B, Klausner DR. Renal carcinoma. In: Scriver CR, Beaudet AL, Sly WS, Valle D, Vogelstein B, eds. The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease (OMMBID), New York: McGraw-Hill; Chap 41. Available at www.ommbid.com. Accessed 12-17-09.
3. Woodward ER, Maher ER. Von Hippel-Lindau disease and endocrine tumour susceptibility. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2006;13:415–25. [PubMed: 16728571]

Revision History

• 22 December 2009 (me) Comprehensive update posted live

• 20 March 2007 (me) Comprehensive update posted to live Web site

• 1 December 2004 (me) Comprehensive update posted to live Web site

• 14 November 2002 (tk,cg) Comprehensive update posted to live Web site

• 17 May 2000 (me) Review posted to live Web site

• 17 September 1999 (rns) Original submission