title: Treatment of neurofibromas with a carbon dioxide laser: a retrospective cross-sectional study of 106 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser ablation for treating neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate laser treatment safety and patient satisfaction at the French National Referral Centre for Neurofibromatosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective survey with a specific questionnaire. The principal outcome measures included pain evaluation and assessments of treatment safety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 106 patients, 70% of whom had more than 50 neurofibromas. Laser treatment was performed mostly for aesthetic reasons, or due to pain, recurrent local trauma or familial influence, under a local anaesthetic, during outpatient visits. The mean pain score was 4.0 ± 2.7 during the administration of local anaesthesia, 2.4 ± 2.1 during laser treatment and <2 48 h after treatment in 56% of cases. The mean satisfaction score for the treatment was 4.6 ± 3.4 and was not associated with disease phenotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CO2 laser treatment for NF could be considered more frequently and might help to decrease the social impact of the disease.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Referral Centre for Neurofibromatosis, Henri Mondor Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France.
authors: Cécile
authors: C
authors: Méni
authors: Emilie
authors: E
authors: Sbidian
authors: Jean Christophe
authors: JC
authors: Moreno
authors: Séverine
authors: S
authors: Lafaye
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Buffard
authors: Serge
authors: S
authors: Goldzal
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Wolkenstein
authors: Laurence
authors: L
authors: Valeyrie-Allanore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D054020:Lasers, Gas; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000601:surgery; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome