Giant ancient neurilemmoma of the cervical region: report of case

Two cases of large tracheobronchial schwannomas completely resected by rigid bronchoscopy with multiple instruments

Primary tracheobronchial schwannomas are extremely rare. Surgical treatment has been the first choice for these benign tumours due to the substantial residual rates and recurrences after bronchoscopic resection. In addition, there has been limited information on bronchoscopic removal of endobronchial schwannomas. We describe two cases of large tracheal and bronchial schwannomas that were completely and successfully resected by snare electrocautery, insulation-tipped knife, and argon plasma coagulation under rigid bronchoscopy. These cases highlight that rigid bronchoscopic treatment with these multiple instruments can be a good treatment option for endotracheal or endobronchial schwannomas.

A rare case of palatal schwannoma with literature review

Schwannoma or neurilemmoma is a benign, slow-growing nerve sheath tumor arising from Schwann cells of the cranial, peripheral or autonomic nerves. Approximately 25%–40% of schwannomas occur in the head and neck region. Occurrences of intraoral schwannomas are rare with reported prevalence being 1%. Intraorally, schwannomas occur in the tongue, palate, buccal mucosa, lips and gingiva. This article provides an insight into a rare case of palatal schwannoma with literature review.

Subcutaneous Schwannoma in the Head Region

Schwannoma is a benign neural tumor derived from Schwann cells surrounding the nerves. It occurs primarily in subcutaneous tissues and muscles with a tendency for distal extremities, head, and neck area. Treatment of schwannoma is surgical excision. Lipomas are the most common soft-tissue lesions. A case is presented to increase awareness on differential diagnosis of head and neck subcutaneous masses.

Extracranial Trigeminal Schwannomas: A Retrospective Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the clinic-radiological features and treatment outcome of extracranial trigeminal schwannomas.

METHOD

Medical records and radiographs of patients treated, from January 2011 to December 2013, for neurogenic tumors were retrospectively reviewed. Extracranial schwannomas other than those of trigeminal nerve were also excluded. A number of parameters, including the patient's age, gender, site, clinical features, radiographic features, histologic variants and treatment provided as well as any associated complications were recorded and analysed.

RESULT

A total of 5 patients met the inclusion criteria. The patients were males, aged 16-56 years. All the schwannomas appear to originate from the terminal branches of trigeminal nerve.

CONCLUSION

Long standing asymptomatic swelling of cheek should include trigeminal schwannomas as the differential diagnosis. The diagnosis though confirmed by the histologic examination but can also be made on the basis of MRI finding. Neural function can be preserved by meticulous surgery.

Unilateral swelling of cheek

A 55 year old male patient reported in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery with a chief complaint of swelling on right side of face from last 2 months. He reported a progressive increase in the swelling. Pain and discomfort was present from last 7 days with increased swelling, and reduced mouth opening. On examination, the face appeared asymmetrical with a swelling in the right cheek which was small, smooth, dome shaped, present approximately 1.5 cm anterior to tragus. Overlying skin was of normal colour. The patient was afebrile. Mouth opening was 25 mm.

Bronchial schwannomas: clinicopathologic analysis of 7 cases

BACKGROUND

It has long been recognized that bronchial schwannomas are extremely rare. As such, diagnosing tumors in this extraordinary location can sometimes be problematic.

METHODS

We reviewed seven cases of bronchoscopically or surgically resected endobronchial schwannomas and evaluated their clinical and pathologic features.

RESULTS

The present study included five female and two male patients, with ages ranging from 16 to 81 years (mean age, 44.9 years). The clinical presentation varied according to tumor size and location. Patients with more centrally (trachea or main bronchus) located tumors experienced respiratory symptoms (80%) more often than patients with more peripherally (lobar or segmental bronchus) located tumors (0%). Histologically, the tumors were composed of spindle cells that stained with S100 protein. Some of the tumors showed typical Antoni A areas with Verocay body formation. Five of six patients (83.3%) underwent complete tumor removal by rigid bronchoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathologists should consider endobronchial schwannoma in the differential diagnosis of a spindle cell tumor involving the bronchus. Additionally, our results showed that rigid bronchoscopy is an effective tool for tumor removal in endobronchial schwannoma patients.

Ancient Schwannoma of the hard palate. An uncommon case report and review

Schwannoma or neurilemmoma is an infrequent benign tumor in the oral cavity that originates from the Schwann cells on the neural sheath of the peripheral nerves. Schwannomas are frequently located in the soft tissues of head and neck region, but only a 1 to 12% of them are located in the oral cavity. Some histological variants of schwannoma have been described including the cellular, plexiform, epithelioid, ancient, and melanocytic types. The "ancient schwannoma" is an uncommon variant of this tumor that shows specific histological characteristics, and is rare in the oral cavity with less than 15 cases described on the literature. Most of them were located in the tongue or in the floor of the mouth, being the hard palate an extremely rare localization. We present a new clinical case of an ancient schwannoma with a long time of evolution, arising from the nasopalatine nerve, and located in the hard palate of a 35 year old female. We also review the main clinical and histological characteristics of this pathology. Key words:Ancient schwannoma, neurilemmoma, palate, schwannoma.

Ancient schwannoma of the parapharynx causing dysphagia: a rare entity

A schwannoma is a benign, encapsulated tumour that is derived from neural sheath (Schwann) cells. Approximately 25-40% of schwannomas occur in the head and neck. The most common site is the parapharyngeal space of the neck; oropharyngeal occurrence is extremely rare. Among the various histological types of schwannomas reported to date, the ancient (degenerative) variant is the most rare. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an ancient schwannoma in the parapharynx with an extensive oropharyngeal component causing dysphagia. Dysphagia was the prominent symptom because of the location and volume of the lesion. The tumour was excised via a transcervical approach.

Schwannoma causing resorption of zygomatic arch

Schwannoma (also known as neurilemmoma, peripheral glioma and peripheral nerve sheath tumor) is a common, histologically distinctive, benign, usually encapsulated, peripheral nerve tumor of Schwann cell origin. Schwannomas can appear anywhere in the body, but are more frequently reported in the head and neck with an incidence of 25-48% in maxillofacial region. Resorption of bones due to schwannoma is rarely noticed in maxillofacial region. We hereby present a case report of schwannoma in a 35-year-old female, causing resorption of zygomatic arch along with review of literature.

Clinicopathologic analysis of 7 cases of oral schwannoma and review of the literature

Schwannomas, also known as neurilemmomas, are uncommon neoplasms apparently derived from Schwann cells. The growth of these tumors causes displacement and compression of the nerve of origin. Schwannomas are usually solitary lesions but can be multiple when associated with neurofibromatosis. Anti-S100 protein is the most widely used antibody for the identification of this neoplasm. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for schwannomas, with few and controversial reports of recurrence or malignant transformation. The present article reports 7 additional cases of oral schwannoma, and the literature is reviewed regarding clinicopathologic features, immunohistochemical findings, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic management of this benign neural tumor.

Schwannomas of the head and neck: a case series

Schwannomas are relatively slow growing benign tumors of the nerve sheath with a well developed capsule. They can reach a considerable size. Typically, symptoms of schwannomas are based on the affected nerve. We present four cases of this tumor that occurred in the head and neck. The differential diagnosis of small painless nodules in head and neck must include schwannomas as it is likely that nerve sheath neoplasms are more common than previously reported. However, due to benign nature and low recurrence prognosis is excellent.

Schwannoma with secondary erosion of mandible: case report with a review of the literature

Schwannoma (neurilemmoma) is a common, histologically distinctive, benign, usually encapsulated, peripheral nerve tumour of Schwann cell origin. We report a case of schwannoma arising from soft tissue near the mandible. A 53-year-old female presented at our department with painless swelling of lingual mucosa of the mandible. The first molar was extracted 20 months before. Panoramic radiograph showed a suspected residual cyst. It was impossible to determine prior to surgery whether this was a peripheral nerve sheath tumour. The lesion was completely removed; the tumour appears to have originated in soft tissue and caused secondary erosion of the mandible.

Schwannoma of vagus nerve masquerading as a parotid tumour

A post-auricular swelling is the most common presentation of a parotid tumour, the majority of which are benign neoplasms like pleomorphic adenoma. This case report discusses a post-styloid parapharyngeal space tumour presenting as a post-auricular mass which, on initial clinical and cytological examination, was diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma. A cross-sectional radiological examination revealed the true location of the mass, which was histopathologically confirmed to be a vagal schwannoma. A radiological differential diagnosis is also discussed.

Ancient schwannoma of the parotid gland: a case report and review of the literature

Schwannomas are encapsulated benign tumours arising from nerve sheath cells, of which ancient schwannoma is one of five variants. Since the first description, only a few ancient schwannomas have been reported in different locations in the head and neck region. In the parotid gland, this tumour is very rare. In this report, a 41-year-old female patient with an ancient schwannoma of the parotid gland is presented and the data of this patient compared with other (comparable) cases described in the literature.

Ancient Schwannoma of the True Vocal Cord

Ancient schwannomas are benign nerve origin neoplasms that may cause difficulties in the differential diagnosis with other benign or malignant tumors. They usually occur in the head and neck region (epiglottis, arytenoepiglottic fold, false vocal cord). Involvement of the true vocal cords is extremely rare (less than 10 cases have ever been reported in the English literature--mainly in women). The present case describes a 27-year-old man who presented with a 2-year history of hoarseness. Indirect laryngoscopy showed a small polypoid mass in the middle of the left vocal cord. During microlaryngoscopy under general anesthesia, the polypoidal mass was removed and sent for histology. Immunohistochemistry and detailed histological examination revealed an ancient schwannoma. The present case in a male patient aims to increase awareness of the possibility that these tumors may also exist in the true vocal cords mimicking other more frequent lesions.