Surgical Correction of Disfiguring Plexiform Neurofibroma Using an Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Neurofibromas of neuroectodermal origin are commonly found in Von Recklinghausens disease or neurofibormatosis type 1. It is an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutation of the long arm of chromosome 17. It can present from small nodules to disfiguring giant tumor. Plexiform neurofibroma is benign in most cases, but it could be transformed into malignant tumor, which requires surgical excision. To cover the defects after the excision, a number of surgical correction methods are available. This study is to report a surgical correction of disfiguring plexiform neurofibroma using anterolateral thigh free flap for extensive defects after surgical excision of neurofibrona. METHODS: Data of five neurofibroma patients with an average age of 39 including medical history, physical examination, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were checked. No disease other than neurofibroma were detected. Biopsy on the excised tissues was performed. The follow-up period was 7 to 27 months. RESULTS: The average size of defects after complete excision of neurofibroma was 13x10~25x15cm. Defects were covered by anterolateral thigh free flap, while donor sites were covered by local flap, split thickness skin graft and regional flap. Throughout follow-up, there were no complication, relapse, or any abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Despite various surgical correction methods are applicable to defects after excision on disfiguring plexiform neurofibroma, coverage of massive defects is still challenging in plastic and reconstructive surgeon. We have made five successful cases of surgical correction of disfiguring plexiform neurofibroma using anterolateral thigh free flap.