title: Surgical debulking of eyelid and anterior orbital plexiform neurofibromas by means of the carbon dioxide laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the carbon dioxide laser as an effective tool for surgical debulking of eyelid and orbital neurofibromas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with neurofibromatosis underwent surgical debulking of their eyelid and orbital plexiform neurofibromas by means of the carbon dioxide laser.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acceptable cosmetic results were obtained with the removal of eyelid and orbital neurofibromas with improved hemostasis and minimal destruction of surrounding tissue when compared with conventional methods of removal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The carbon dioxide laser may allow significant improvement in the removal of plexiform neurofibromas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA. daileyr@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dailey
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wobig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018318:Neurofibroma, Plexiform / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome