[Difficulties of the management of head and neck neurofibromatosis]

Neurofibromatoses represent a group of 7 diseases having the same cutaneous signs due to a common embryologic origin. The types 1 and 2 are the most frequent and the most studied. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) or Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease, whose prevalence is 1/4500. The cranio-orbitotemporal lesions exist in 1 to 10% of the cases. Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is also an autosomal dominantly inherited disease, but is ten times less frequent than the NF1 and is characterized by bilateral vestibular schwannomas (former acoustic neurinomas). The purpose of this work was to detail the clinical features, highlighting the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties.

Nine patients managed between 1990 and 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. Eight patients were found carrier of NF1 and one patient carrier of NF2 according to the diagnostic criteria of the 1988's National Institute of Health consensus.

Five women and four men were managed; patient age varied between 13 and 62 years and the mean age was 26 years. Surgical resection of the tumor was carried out among 8 patients with bone reconstruction of the orbit on 3 patients and cutaneous expansion on one other. The results are difficult to appreciate especially that the surgery was iterative. However, all our patients were satisfied with the result and we noted recurrence in a patient presenting a retro-auricular tumor, which filled the external auditory canal requiring a further surgery. The patient having NF2 was treated by neurosurgery and showed a good result.

The NF1 manifestations are extremely variable. Facial neurofibromatoses are difficult to control given the presence of soft tissues infiltration and the associated osseous dysplasia. The results are modest and recurrence is frequent. Cancer risks and the disease's completely unpredictable evolution urge a regular and multidisciplinary patient follow-up.