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Sporadic and multiple neurofibromas in the head and neck region: a retrospective study of 33 years

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Abstract

The neurofibroma occurs as isolated or multiple lesions frequently associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and histopathological features of neurofibromas, particularly the plexiform variant, in the skin and oral mucosa, discussing their pathogenesis as well as clinical management of isolated lesion unassociated with NF1. The clinicopathologic features of 66 neurofibromas in the head and neck region diagnosed at the pathology laboratories of the Bauru Dentistry School and Lauro de Souza Lima Research Institute from 1970 to 2003 were reviewed. The clinical data, therapy, and follow-up information were obtained from the medical records. The results showed a high frequency of cutaneous lesions (81.8%) occurring mainly in females older than 40 years. Isolated neurofibromas were found in 51.2% of patients, and multiple lesions were often associated with the NF-1. The histopathological analysis demonstrated that diffused neurofibromas occur more frequently than the plexiform type. However, one case of plexiform neurofibroma was detected in the oral mucosa as an isolated lesion non-associated with the NF-1. The indolent clinical behavior of isolated neurofibromas in the head and neck region and the absence of NF-1 association reinforce that sporadic lesion could be hyperplastic or hamartomatous rather than neoplastic in nature.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) for supporting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Area of Pathology, Department of Stomatology, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Alameda Octávio Pinheiro Brisolla, 9-75 CEP 17012-901, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil

    Luciana Sassa Marocchio, Denise Tostes Oliveira & Michele Conceição Pereira

  2. Department of Pathology, Lauro de Souza Lima Research Institute, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil

    Cléverson Teixeira Soares & Raul Negrão Fleury

Authors
  1. Luciana Sassa Marocchio
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  2. Denise Tostes Oliveira
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  3. Michele Conceição Pereira
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  4. Cléverson Teixeira Soares
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  5. Raul Negrão Fleury
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Correspondence to Denise Tostes Oliveira.

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Marocchio, L.S., Oliveira, D.T., Pereira, M.C. et al. Sporadic and multiple neurofibromas in the head and neck region: a retrospective study of 33 years. Clin Oral Invest 11, 165–169 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-006-0096-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-006-0096-6

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