Use of Surgical Laser for Excision of a Neurofibroma Associated With Neurofibromatosis Type-1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that affects approximately 1/3500 individuals. Various bone manifestations and peripheral nerves neoplastic lesions associated with NF1 are seen in the jaws. Several oral manifestations may occur in this disorder; therefore the dentist's knowledge and multidisciplinary management of these patients are extremely important. In the present article, we present the use of a high-power surgical laser to excise a neurofibroma in a patient with several intraoral manifestations associated with NF1. The use of diode laser (808 nm) for excision biopsy of tongue nodules showed no thermal damage to the tissue, allowing an adequate histopathological analysis of the neurofibroma.