A Lesson Learned in Managing Traumatic Cervical Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is also known as von Recklinghausen disease. It is a rare autosomal dominant disorder that affects the skin and nervous system. The head and neck region is one of the potential areas for the involvement of neurofibromatosis due to the unique anatomical compartmentalization of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Neurofibromas in the head and neck region are primarily found within the soft tissues. NF-1 can be diagnosed during childhood because characteristic cutaneous manifestations are typically present during childhood. In this report, we discuss a case involving a 30-year-old woman diagnosed with NF-1. She presented with right neck swelling preceded by a history of neck trauma. She had a history of numerous café-au-lait spots in the thorax, neck, and facial region. The diagnosis of NF-1 was made based on the radiographic findings and National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria. The patient was treated conservatively with follow-up.