Neurofibromatosis type 1 surgery

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Moises Romo M.D.

Overview

Surgery is only used as a palliative, rather than curative therapy. Surgery can be helpful for the correction of some neurofibromatosis type 1 bone malformations and for removal of painful or disfiguring tumors.

Surgery

Surgery can be helpful for correction of some neurofibromatosis type 1 bone malformations and for removal of painful or disfiguring tumors.
After removal, there is a chance that the tumors may grow back and in greater numbers.
Surgery options for tumor removal include total and partial resections.
In the rare instances when tumors become malignant (3- 5% of all cases), treatment may include radiation, or chemotherapy in addition to surgery. ^[1]
In cases where tumors are not progressing rapidly, the conservative approach of watchful waiting is preferred.

References

Overview