title: Neurofibromas of the Oral Cavity: Clinical Aspects, Treatment, and Outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of diode laser for the surgical treatment of neurofibromas (NF), in terms of clinical outcome and therapeutic success.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The NF is a benign tumor of the peripheral nerve sheath, characterized by the proliferation of Schwann cells, perineural cells, and endoneural fibroblasts. NF may occur as a solitary lesion, or as part of a generalized neurofibromatosis syndrome; much more rarely it occurs in the form of multiple neurofibromas with no associated syndrome. Two distinct variants of neurofibromatosis have been described: types I and II.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten cases are reported (6 women and 4 men, age range 43-70 years) with smooth, painful, or painless lesions of the oral mucosa. Lesions were completely excised using a diode laser at 980 nm wavelength, average power 2.0 W, in continuous wave mode, with 320 μm optical fibers, for 45 sec average time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete healing occurred within 20 days. There were no adverse effects; patients were carefully followed up and there have been no recurrences after an interval of 3 months to 3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this diode laser treatment of NF demonstrate good effectiveness of this novel therapy, which may replace conventional surgical procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Medical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostic, University of Genoa , Genoa, Italy .
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angiero
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Medical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostic, University of Genoa , Genoa, Italy .
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Medical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostic, University of Genoa , Genoa, Italy .
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ottonello
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Medical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostic, University of Genoa , Genoa, Italy .
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maltagliati
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Medical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostic, University of Genoa , Genoa, Italy .
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crippa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome