Satisfaction from surgical treatment and its influence on the wellbeing of patients with Recklinghausen disease – preliminary report

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is one of the most common autosomal dominant disorders. Multiple benign dermal neurofibromas, café au lait spots, axillary and inguinal freckling are the hallmarks of NF-1. Aim: The aim of this paper is to verify if surgical treatment performed in patients with NF-1 is satisfactory to them and to describe demographic factors characteristic for patients with Recklinghausen disease. Methods: A special questionnaire was prepared for the study, which contained 45 questions. Seventeen patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 agreed to fill in the questionnaire aged from 22 to 61 years. Results: Surgical treatment in patients was started between 6 and 45 years of age. All patients declared their will to continue surgical treatment. After treatment patients felt more comfortable, more self-confident and sociable. The first symptoms of neurofibromatosis were seen at about 13 years of life in most patients. All women who gave birth noticed progression of the disease during pregnancy. Conclusions: Performed surgical treatment raises life comfort and increases self-confidence in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. Due to visible skin changes in neurofibromas it is worth referring patients to Plastic Surgery Departments. Doctors dealing with patients with NF-1 should inform them about the potential heredity of the disease and that puberty and pregnancy intensify the process of skin neurofibroma development.