eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Oral Mucosa

Oral Neurofibroma: Follow-up

Author: Indraneel Bhattacharyya, DDS, MSD, Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, Director of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Residency Program, University of Florida, College of Dentistry
Coauthor(s): Donald Cohen, DMD, MS, Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery & Diagnostic Sciences, University of Florida College of Dentistry
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Oct 7, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

Solitary neurofibromas are treated by surgical excision and exhibit very low recurrence. The patient should be instructed to report any new growth seen in the area or any abnormal sensations, such as tingling. These signs may signify a recurrence, and lesions may require repeat excision.

Deterrence/Prevention

No special precaution is recommended for prevention of recurrence. Surgical excision is usually curative.

Complications

A possible, although extremely rare, complication may be recurrence of the lesion. Other potential complications that may be seen are purely associated with surgical treatment and may include scarring and numbness.

Prognosis

Usually, the prognosis for solitary neurofibroma is extremely good, with only rare instances of recurrence after resection; however, 5-15% exhibit malignant transformation of 1 or more lesions. This neurofibrosarcomatous change has an extremely poor prognosis, and distant metastasis is common. The average 5-year survival rate is only 15%.

Miscellaneous

Special Concerns

A solitary neurofibroma may be a precursor to neurofibromatosis (also see Neurofibromatosis, Type 1), and the patient should be evaluated with this in mind. Close clinical follow up and/or genetic testing may be required, especially if a lesion recurs multiple times or more than one lesion is seen.

 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous Chief Editor, William D. James, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Oral Neurofibroma

Overview: Oral Neurofibroma
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Oral Neurofibroma
Treatment & Medication: Oral Neurofibroma
Follow-up: Oral Neurofibroma
Multimedia: Oral Neurofibroma
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

oral neurofibroma, neurofibroma, neurofibromatosis, von Recklinghausen's disease of the skin, von Recklinghausen disease, fibroma molluscum

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Indraneel Bhattacharyya, DDS, MSD, Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, Director of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Residency Program, University of Florida, College of Dentistry
Indraneel Bhattacharyya, DDS, MSD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and American Dental Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Donald Cohen, DMD, MS, Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery & Diagnostic Sciences, University of Florida College of Dentistry
Donald Cohen, DMD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
Disclosure: Merck & Co Grant/research funds P.I on research grant on bisphosphonate related

Medical Editor

Neil Shear, MD, Professor and Chief of Dermatology, Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Pharmacology, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine; Head of Dermatology, Sunnybrook Women's College Health Sciences Center and Women's College Hospital, Canada
Neil Shear, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Canadian Dermatology Association, Canadian Medical Association, Ontario Medical Association, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Drore Eisen, MD, DDS, Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Research Associates of Cincinnati
Drore Eisen, MD, DDS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Oral Medicine, and American Dental Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Glen H Crawford, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital
Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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