Surgical debulking of eyelid and anterior orbital plexiform neurofibromas by means of the carbon dioxide laser

PURPOSE: To present the carbon dioxide laser as an effective tool for surgi cal debulking of eyelid and orbital neurofibromas. METHOD: Two patients with neurofibromatosis underwent surgical debulking of their eyelid and orbital plexiform neurofibromas by means of the carbon di oxide laser. RESULTS: Acceptable cosmetic results were obtained with the removal of eyel id and orbital neurofibromas with improved hemostasis and minimal destructi on of surrounding tissue when compared with conventional methods of removal . CONCLUSIONS: The carbon dioxide laser may allow significant improvement in the removal of plexiform neurofibromas. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. A ll rights reserved.