Phakomatoses are a group of genetic and acquired disorders involving spots or tumors affecting the skin, brain, and other parts of the body. An ancient Greek statuette from 323-31 BC depicts a man with multiple smooth nodules representing neurofibromas. Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame is speculated to have suffered from neurofibromatosis type 1 due to his hunched appearance. The term phakomatoses was coined by the Dutch ophthalmologist Jan van der Hoeve in the early 20th century to collectively describe these types of disorders.

3. Phakomatoses (also referred to as neurocutaneous syndromes) are a
group of genetic and acquired disorders that derive their collective
name from the Greek noun phakos ("lentil, spot") and the Greek word
terminations -oma (signifying a tumor or neoplasm) and -
osis (signifying a process, especially a disease or abnormal process).

4. A statuette—probably from the Hellenistic
period (323–31 BC)—originating from
Smyrna (likely a votive offer to the divinity)
and representing an adult male with
multiple, smooth and sessile, not
pedunculated nodules likely representing
neurofibromas. Copyright © 1994, Nature
Publishing Group.

5. The quest for Quasimodo the
“Hunchback” of Notre Dame de
Paris A further “renowned”, likely
NF1 sufferer, could have been
Quasimodo, the “Hunchback” of
Notre Dame de Paris, described by
the French poet, novelist and
dramatist of the Romantic
Movement, Victor Hugo (1802–
1885), in 19th century.

6. The Dutch ophthalmologist Jan van der
Hoeve (1878- 1952)

8. DDX?