Treatment Strategy for Radical Resection of Giant Neurofibroma

The management of giant neurofibroma is a challenge for clinical surgeons. Abundant malformed vessels exist in the tumor, and life-threatening hemorrhage can occur during operation. Moreover, repairing huge defects after radical resection is challenging. Hence, subtotal resection and debulking are more frequently performed than total resection. Although subtotal resection or debulking may reduce morbidity, it inevitably leads to a high rate of recurrence. In addition, subtotal resection or debulking does not decrease surgical risk; on the contrary, when operating on the tumor body, the rate of hemorrhage is much higher in case of subtotal resection and debulking than in radical resection. In this study, 9 patients with giant neurofibroma were retrospectively reviewed. The tumor size ranged from 12 x 9 cm to 60 x 70 cm. Preoperative angiography and magnetic resonance imaging scanning are performed to clarify the tumor features. All patients underwent radical resection, and in-operation blood loss ranged from 300 to 2600 mL. The resection defects were repaired by anterolateral thigh free flap in 2 patients and skin grafts in 7 patients. Partial skin necrosis occurred in 4 patients, and the necrosis area can be repaired with adjacent survived skin by changing the dressing several times. No tumor recurrence was recorded during routine follow-up (range, 12-39 months). The treatment strategy for radical resection of giant neurofibroma proves effective, and the technique of reusing the skin provides sufficient material for covering a large defect without the morbidity associated with a new donor. Thus, tumor removal and wound repair can be accomplished in one stage.