Abstract: Objective To explore the principles of surgical treatment in neurofibromatosis type 1（NF1）.Methods From May 1998 to August 2006,15 patients with NF1 were divided into small type and massive type.All patients were treated by multidisciplinary schedule.Results Each patient underwent operation for 1 to 5 times,and the average operation time was 2.6.Among 15 patients,4 patients underwent near-total resection,5 patients underwent subtotal resection,and 6 patients underwent partial resection.Except temporal facial nerve paralysis was found in 2 patients,salivary fistula and decreased vision was respectively found in 1 patient,other patients healed without obvious complications.During the post-operative follow-up periods of 1.5 to 6.5 years,no recurrences were developed in 4 patients underwent near-total resection.Recurrences in different degrees were found in other patients,but new cosmetic and functional disturbances have not been developed at present.Conclusion NF1 is a neurogenic disease.Complete resection for NF1 usually is impossible,but recurrence after subtotal or partial resection is common.We suggest NF1 should be treated by multidisciplinary schedule.Small type should be performed near-total resection.Massive type should be tried to improve functional and cosmetic disturbances when near-total resection could not be performed.Long-term follow-up and postoperative regular imaging are necessary to monitor the residual lesion.

Key words: Neurofibromatosis type 1, Multidisciplinary, Operation