treatment
Last reviewed 01/2018
The skin tumours of neurofibromatosis should not be excised unless they show evidence of malignancy or are cosmetically objectionable. Response of benign lesions to radiotherapy is too weak to justify the risks of heavy exposure.
Plexiform neurofibromas may be treated with plastic surgery but the results are not always satisfactory and there may be risk of paralysis especially if the cranial nerves are involved superficially.
Cranial and spinal neurofibromas are amenable to corrective surgery. Any gliomas or meningiomas should usually be extirpated, partially or completely, once intracranial pressure is raised.