Treatment of neurofibromas with a carbon dioxide laser: a retrospective cross-sectional study of 106 patients.

BACKGROUND

Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser ablation for treating neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate laser treatment safety and patient satisfaction at the French National Referral Centre for Neurofibromatosis.

METHODS

Retrospective survey with a specific questionnaire. The principal outcome measures included pain evaluation and assessments of treatment safety.

RESULTS

We included 106 patients, 70% of whom had more than 50 neurofibromas. Laser treatment was performed mostly for aesthetic reasons, or due to pain, recurrent local trauma or familial influence, under a local anaesthetic, during outpatient visits. The mean pain score was 4.0 ± 2.7 during the administration of local anaesthesia, 2.4 ± 2.1 during laser treatment and <2 48 h after treatment in 56% of cases. The mean satisfaction score for the treatment was 4.6 ± 3.4 and was not associated with disease phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

CO2 laser treatment for NF could be considered more frequently and might help to decrease the social impact of the disease.