LONG-TERM OUTCOME AFTER REMOVAL OF SPINAL NEUROFIBROMA

Spinal neurofibromas are uncommon, comprising approximately 3% of all spinal tumors. They occur both sporadically and in association with ne urofibromatosis 1 (NF1; von Recklinghausen's disease). This study pres ents the clinical characteristics of 32 patients who underwent surgery for symptomatic spinal, neurofibromas. Twenty-two of these patients s howed clinical signs of NF1. The patients were typically younger (medi an age 31 years) than those with spinal schwannomas. The tumors were l ocated mainly in the cervical region and tended to grow both extra- an d intradurally. Patients with NF1 were prone to develop new spinal neu rofibromas. A life-table analysis showed a reduced survival rate for t hese patients compared to that of the general population.