Neurofibroma

A neurofibroma is a benign tumour which originates in perineural fibroblasts. It is generally a neoformation and in rarer cases, lesions can be multiple when they form a part of the clinical picture of Von Recklinghausen’s disease or neurofibromatosis. The latter is a hereditary pathology, which is characterised by the formation of mucosal and skin neurofibromas. There are two types of neurofibromatosis (I and II) in relation to the affected gene but only type I presents in the oral cavity. The singleton form can occur at any age. It is generally asymptomatic and it frequently occurs in the vestibule, the buccal mucosa and the tongue. The clinical picture of type 1 neurofibromatosis is broad, including multiple neurofibromas, café au lait spots on the skin, bone anomalies and modifications in the nervous system. Diagnosis is effected clinically and histologically; treatment involves surgical excision of the lesion/s.