Prognostic signs in the surgical management of plexiform neurofibroma: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia experience, 1974-1994

Growth behavior of plexiform neurofibromas after surgery

“…Of note, all patients with radiographic relapse were younger than 18.9 years and comprise 43% (9 of 21) of studied patients younger than 21 years. This number is in concordance with findings by Needle et al 10 , who showed in a pediatric study that of 168 studied PNs, 45% regrew after surgery.…”

“…In previous studies, prognostic indicators of recurrence were identified. 10 Patients younger than 10 years at the time of surgery; with lesions of the head/neck, face, and trunk; or who received an incomplete resection, had a shorter time to relapse. 10,11 On the other hand, favorable factors appeared to be gross total resection and low residual tumor volume.…”

“…10 Patients younger than 10 years at the time of surgery; with lesions of the head/neck, face, and trunk; or who received an incomplete resection, had a shorter time to relapse. 10,11 On the other hand, favorable factors appeared to be gross total resection and low residual tumor volume. 10 A study in seven young patients with small PNs, who underwent complete resection of superficial PNs, demonstrated no relapse after four consecutive years of follow-up.…”

“…10,11 On the other hand, favorable factors appeared to be gross total resection and low residual tumor volume. 10 A study in seven young patients with small PNs, who underwent complete resection of superficial PNs, demonstrated no relapse after four consecutive years of follow-up. 12 Surgical complications may be relatively common in NF1 patients given the frequent infiltrating and hypervascular nature of PNs; these include nerve damage, functional impairment, bleeding, and wound-healing abnormalities.…”

Multiple Plexiform Neurofibromas in Neurofibromatosis Type 1: A Case Report

“…However, these masses tend to recur in 20% of cases despite an appropriate approach. 8 In unresectable, progressive and symptomatic lesions, good results have been reported recently after the administration of interferon-α. 9,10 However, the prognosis is still unpredictable due to the high risk of progression of the disease and its variable expressivity.…”