Neurofibroma of Base Tongue in a Young Boy

The peripheral nerve sheath tumours can be separated into benign and malignant types. Schwanomma, neurofibroma and perineurioma are benign tumours. Neurofibromas are rare in Head & Neck region, but are most common among neural lesion in the region [1]. Up to 10% of these lesions are associated with Neurofibromatosis, an autosomal dominant disorder. Neurofibroma can be of three subtypeslocalised, diffuse and plexiform [2,3]. Plexiform neurofibroma is least common and is pathognomic of von Recklinghausen disease, seen in 17 – 30 % of patient, caused by mutation of NF1 gene in chromosome 17. The most common sites in Head and Neck are temple, back of the neck and tongue. Oral manifestation are described in only 4-7% of patient, and tongue is the most common site [2,4,5]. Approximately 5-10% of Plexiform neurofibroma undergo malignant transformation and their rate of growth is inversely proportional to age. The growth of Plexiform Neurofibroma is usually illdefined, and there is a risk of recurrence [3,5,6-9]. Here, we present a case of an isolated plexiform neurofibroma of the base of tongue in a young male, initially managed as haemangioma.