Surgical Innovations in Neurofibromatosis Tumors: Nerve Preservation Strategies, Functional Mapping, and Emerging Technologies

Background

Neurofibromatosis (NF) Type 1 and Type 2 are autosomal dominant tumor predisposition syndromes characterized by the development of nerve sheath tumors intimately associated with critical neural structures. Surgical management has historically been constrained by the high risk of neurological morbidity, particularly facial nerve paralysis, hearing loss, sensory deficits, and motor deficits. However, over the past decade, the operative paradigm has shifted from radical resection toward function-preserving strategies supported by technological innovation.