Neurofibroma

A moderately firm, benign, encapsulated tumor resulting from proliferation of SCHWANN CELLS and FIBROBLASTS that includes portions of nerve fibers. The tumors usually develop along peripheral or cranial nerves and are a central feature of NEUROFIBROMATOSIS 1, where they may occur intracranially or involve spinal roots. Pathologic features include fusiform enlargement of the involved nerve. Microscopic examination reveals a disorganized and loose cellular pattern with elongated nuclei intermixed with fibrous strands. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1016)

Also Known As:

Networked: 703 relevant articles (12 outcomes, 47 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Neoplasms (Cancer)
2.	Nerve Sheath Neoplasms (Nerve Sheath Neoplasm)
3.	Neurilemmoma (Schwannoma)
4.	Neurofibromatosis 1 (Neurofibromatosis Type I)
5.	Melanoma (Melanoma, Malignant)

Experts

1.	Ratner, Nancy: 14 articles (10/2015 - 12/2003)
2.	Kluwe, Lan: 10 articles (05/2014 - 08/2004)
3.	Upadhyaya, Meena: 9 articles (04/2012 - 02/2004)
4.	Friedrich, Reinhard E: 8 articles (12/2015 - 08/2004)
5.	Wu, Jianqiang: 8 articles (10/2015 - 01/2005)
6.	Rizvi, Tilat A: 7 articles (10/2015 - 01/2005)
7.	Wolkenstein, Pierre: 7 articles (01/2015 - 06/2004)
8.	Carroll, Steven L: 7 articles (04/2014 - 01/2005)
9.	Yang, Feng-Chun: 6 articles (01/2012 - 12/2003)
10.	Hagel, Christian: 5 articles (12/2015 - 06/2011)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Neurofibroma:

1.	Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberansIBA 01/01/2011 - "Altogether the morphological and immunostaining features were neither suggestive of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans nor neurofibroma. " 12/01/2003 - "A 26-year-old patient had a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans that clinically was considered to represent either a skin tag or neurofibroma. " 11/01/2010 - "Three previously-reported cases of medallion-like dermal dendrocyte hamartoma also have had a previous histological misdiagnosis of probable neurofibroma; other reported cases have been misdiagnosed as congenital atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. " 09/01/2000 - "In skin tumors, CD10+ cells were found mainly in dermatofibromas and, to a lesser extent, in Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and neurofibromas. " 01/01/2010 - "Multinucleated floret-like giant cells (MNFGCs), similar to those commonly observed in pleomorphic lipoma and giant cell fibroblastoma, have been occasionally reported in gynecomastia and neurofibromas from patients affected by neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). "
2.	ProgesteroneFDA LinkGeneric 07/01/2008 - "These data suggest that progesterone plays an important role in the development of neurofibromas in NF1." 07/01/2008 - "Schwann cells from human neurofibromas show increased proliferation rates under the influence of progesterone." 02/09/2005 - "High doses of progesterone might stimulate the growth of neurofibromas and deserve more caution." 02/15/2003 - "We hypothesize that progesterone may play an important role in neurofibroma growth and suggest that antiprogestins may be useful in the treatment of this tumor." 07/01/2012 - "The rapid growth of the neurofibroma may have been the result of hormonal influence of estrogen or progesterone or both. "
3.	Somatostatin Receptors (Somatostatin Receptor)IBA 11/01/1987 - "Tumors originating from neuroblasts, i.e., ganglioneuroblastoma and medulloblastoma, contained a high density of somatostatin receptors, whereas neurinomas and neurofibromas as well as the ependymomas, one teratoma, and one plexus papilloma were lacking such receptors. " 11/01/1987 - "Fifty-two brain tumors, consisting of 17 astrocytomas, 4 oligodendrogliomas, 20 glioblastomas, 3 neurinomas, 2 ependymomas, 1 neurofibroma, 1 ganglioneuroblastoma, 1 medulloblastoma, 1 plexus papilloma, 1 teratoma, and 1 germinoma, were tested for their content of specific somatostatin receptors using autoradiographic techniques or in vitro binding assays with membrane homogenates. " 07/01/2001 - "Imaging of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) using [111In]diethylenetriaminepentaacetic-acid-octreotide (DTPAOC) has proven to be helpful in the differentiation of meningiomas, neurinomas or neurofibromas, and metastases as well as in the follow-up of meningiomas. " 12/01/2005 - "In the present study, we examined the expression of all 5 somatostatin receptor subtypes (sst1-5) in 3 normal peripheral nerves, 3 traumatic neuromas, 27 schwannomas, 18 neurofibromas, and 177 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) by immunohistochemistry as well as by Western blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction investigations in 2 normal peripheral nerves, one neurofibroma, 5 schwannomas, and 5 MPNSTs. " 01/15/1987 - "The following tumors did not contain somatostatin receptors: prostate carcinomas (n = 17); prostate hyperplasia (n = 2); ovarian carcinomas (n = 6); endometrial carcinomas (n = 4); primary liver cell carcinomas (n = 3); pheochromocytomas (n = 3); aldosteronomas (n = 2); medullary thyroid carcinomas (n = 2); one adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting pulmonary carcinoid; one astrocytoma; one neurofibroma; one lung tumor; and one bladder tumor. "
4.	CosmeticsIBA 07/01/2000 - "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. " 12/01/2009 - "Normally, excision of neurofibromas is only indicated in the presence of neurological symptoms, suspicion of malignancy or for exceptional cosmetic reasons. " 01/01/2007 - "This case demonstrates that neurofibroma of the pinna in the area of the external meatus can produce functional as well as cosmetic impairment, and surgery can produce a very satisfactory result." 02/01/1997 - "Cosmetic lesions include pigmentary changes (café-au-lait spots), prominent neurofibromas, and osseous lesions. " 03/01/1993 - "The results can be considered satisfactory in some cases, when the orbital shape is preserved and the eyelid structure has not been excessively altered by the neurofibroma; in all other cases, the cosmetic outcome is inferior to the patient's and parents' expectations. "
5.	tranilast (N 5')IBA 03/01/2009 - "Thus, tranilast can be a potent therapeutic agent to inhibit the growth of neurofibromas." 06/01/2009 - "Tranilast: a novel preventor of neurofibroma growth?" 03/01/2009 - "We assumed that tranilast would suppress neurofibroma cell growth. " 03/01/2009 - "In order to prove this hypothesis, we investigated the effectiveness of tranilast in inhibiting the tumor growth using a new cell culture system obtained from patients with neurofibromas. " 03/01/2009 - "Tranilast, an anti-allergic drug, down-regulates the growth of cultured neurofibroma cells derived from neurofibromatosis type 1."
6.	MART-1 AntigenIBA 07/01/2012 - "Our data indicate that Melan-A immunohistochemical staining is helpful in differentiating neurotized melanocytic nevi from neurofibromas when distinction on histomorphology alone is difficult." 07/01/2012 - "All of the melanocytic nevi showed Melan-A staining within the neurotized areas, with most of the areas staining strongly positive, whereas all the neurofibromas were completely absent of Melan-A stain. " 07/01/2012 - "To determine whether Melan-A (MART-1) immunohistochemical stain is sufficient to differentiate neurotized melanocytic nevi from neurofibromas. " 07/01/2012 - "Differentiating neurotized melanocytic nevi from neurofibromas using Melan-A (MART-1) immunohistochemical stain." 01/01/2000 - "To evaluate the role of Melan-A in differentiating melanocytic and nonmelanocytic lesions we assessed a number of benign nonmelanocytic skin lesions including neurofibromas, granular cell tumors, and dermatofibromas. "
7.	Octreotide (Sandostatin)FDA LinkGeneric 07/01/1998 - "[111In-DTPA-d-Phe1]-octreotide scintigraphy allows differentiation between meningiomas and neurinomas or neurofibromas and therefore provides complementary information to computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. " 07/01/2001 - "Imaging of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) using [111In]diethylenetriaminepentaacetic-acid-octreotide (DTPAOC) has proven to be helpful in the differentiation of meningiomas, neurinomas or neurofibromas, and metastases as well as in the follow-up of meningiomas. "
8.	VitaminsIBA 10/01/2013 - "It is suggested that NB-UVB irradiation is effective for increasing the serum level of vitamin D₃ in patients with neurofibromatosis 1, which may be of benefit for skin symptoms such as pigmented macules or neurofibromas." 10/01/2013 - "The serum vitamin D₃ levels in patients with neurofibromatosis 1 has been reported to be significantly lower than that in control subjects, and the level of vitamin D₃ reversely correlates with the severity of neurofibroma formation. "
9.	Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE Inhibitors)IBA 05/01/2008 - "ACE inhibitors: a novel treatment for neurofibroma."
10.	1-phenyl-3,3-dimethyltriazene (PDT)IBA 01/01/2012 - "Three months post-PDT, MRI revealed a significant reduction in the neurofibroma size. "

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Lasers (Laser) 01/01/1996 - "Our follow-up examinations have shown there to be no recurrence of neurofibromas eradicated by laser-surgical treatment provided they are removed completely and radically. " 12/01/2009 - "We report for the first time the use of confocal laser scanning microscopy to differentiate between neurofibroma and healthy skin." 12/01/2009 - "Confocal laser scanning microscopy-guided surgery for neurofibroma." 01/01/1996 - "Altogether the removal of all neurofibromas, including the smallest sizes, cannot be accomplished without laser-surgical technique. " 01/01/1996 - "With the passage of time our method of laser-surgical LPPL technique has become more sophisticated in order to achieve radical removal of all neurofibromas on the surface of the body. "
2.	Radiotherapy 06/01/2005 - "The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for neurofibromas. " 01/01/2007 - "Occurrence of clinically symptomatic benign neurofibromas of peripheral nerves after radiotherapy is a rarity. " 06/01/2005 - "Radiotherapy and radiosurgery for benign neurofibromas." 10/01/2015 - "Massive soft tissue neurofibroma does not respond to chemotherapy or radiotherapy and is associated with life-threatening surgical complications. " 03/01/2015 - "Surgical decompression in this premature neonate was not possible because of the extensive nature of the disease; it is known that neurofibroma is non-respondent to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. "
3.	Tissue Expansion 07/01/2012 - "The role of tissue expansion for coverage of soft-tissue defects of the face following neurofibroma resection has been briefly described previously with good results but limited follow-up. " 07/01/2012 - "In both patients, tissue expansion was used to recruit tissue for fascio-cutaneous flaps following radical excision of adjacent neurofibromas. " 09/01/2011 - "Use of tissue expansion to allow reconstruction of the back after wide resection of a diffuse neurofibroma."
4.	Solid-State Lasers 01/01/2005 - "We experienced three cases of neurofibroma of the bronchus which were successfully treated by transbronchial electrical snaring and Nd-YAG laser abrasion. " 05/01/2014 - "In this prospective, comparative, in vivo study, 15,580 neurofibromas (44 operations on 21 patients) were removed via electrosurgery, CO2- or Er:YAG laser ablation. " 12/01/1993 - "[A case of polypoid bronchial neurofibroma originating from right B2b successfully treated by bronchoscopic snaring forceps and Nd-YAG laser therapy]." 05/01/2014 - "Comparative study of CO2- and Er:YAG laser ablation of multiple cutaneous neurofibromas in von Recklinghausen's disease." 05/01/2014 - "Er:YAG laser vaporization of multiple cutaneous neurofibromas is a simple and rapid procedure that results in significantly better cosmetic results than CO2 laser treatment or electrosurgery."
5.	Light Coagulation 07/01/2008 - "Within the limitations of the present study, laser photocoagulation has proven to be a promising technique that may be an alternative or additive modality for treatment of multiple cutaneous neurofibromas. " 07/01/2008 - "Non-excision treatment of multiple cutaneous neurofibromas by laser photocoagulation." 07/01/2008 - "This study was conducted to evaluate a non-excision treatment of multiple cutaneous neurofibromas, using surface and interstitial approaches of neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (1,064 nm) photocoagulation, depending upon the size and location of the lesions. "