Infra-orbital nerve schwannoma: Report and review

Isolated schwannoma originating from the infraorbital nerve: A case report

As a benign isolated and encapsulated tumor originating from the nerve sheaths, schwannomas rarely appear on the cranial nerves, among which infraorbital nerve schwannomas are highly uncommon. We report a case of isolated infraorbital nerve schwannoma in a 58-year-old male patient with a clinical manifestation of proptosis in the affected eye.

Orbital schwannoma management: a case report, literature review, and potential paradigm shift

PURPOSE

To present a case of orbital schwannoma and assess the literature on treatment modalities.

METHODS

A MEDLINE literature search for cases of orbital schwannomas was performed using the PubMed search tool using the search terms "orbital schwannoma" and "orbital neurilemmoma." Papers were included if they were peer-reviewed, published in English, discussed management, and included the search terms. Each article was rated using the scale developed by the British Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. In addition, we present a case report of an orbital schwannoma.

RESULTS

A total of 428 articles were found. 102 met the criteria for inclusion. Only two articles met Level 1 evidence and 16 were important to the clinical care process. We report a case of a biopsy-proven orbital schwannoma managed conservatively with observation over a 4-year period due to risk of cosmetic disfigurement with tumor removal. There has been no change in tumor size and no associated complications during follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a paucity of data on the natural history of orbital schwannomas. Based on our review of the literature, we recommend observation for asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic orbital schwannomas with minimal growth over an extended period of time. For rapidly growing tumors or large tumors affecting key structures causing visual loss, diplopia, aesthetic disfigurement, or patient discomfort, a more aggressive approach may be necessary.

Unusual presentation of mucormycosis mimicking a localised sino-orbital pathology

Mucormycosis is an aggressive and deadly fungal infection, which is invariably associated with an immunocompromised patient. Mucormycosis in the head and neck region presents as skeletal necrosis, with or without soft tissue involvement. Early identification and treatment with combination of surgical debridement and parenteral antifungal therapy is critical for a favourable outcome. This paper reports an unusual presentation of mucormycosis, mimicking a localised sino-orbital pathology involving the infraorbital subcutaneous tissue and the maxillary sinus, in a 35 years old immunocompetent man. Despite aggressive antifungal therapy and surgical management, the course of disease was fatal, reiterating the high mortality associated with mucormycosis.

A rare case of isolated schwannoma in infraorbital nerve

A schwannoma is a benign tumor that develops from Schwann cells. It is known to occur more frequently in women than men, and about one third of schwannoma cases occur in the head and neck area. It is also known to originate mainly in the auditory nerve. However, it is rarely associated with the trigeminal nerve, and especially, schwannomas related to the infraorbital nerve are very rare. we report a rare case of a schwannoma involving the infraorbital branch of the trigeminal nerve in a 45-year old male adult. The patient underwent physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging. The mass was approached through subciliary approach that is familiar to the plastic surgeon and completely resected. Histopathological findings showed pointed to a benign schwannoma. Infraorbital nerve schwannoma is difficult to distinguish from other diseases by means of clinical symptoms, physical findings, or imaging. In spite of its rarity, infraorbital nerve schwannoma may be considered a possible diagnosis in the case of mass on cheek. Assessment by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is necessary for proper diagnosis. About the surgical approach, excision through the subciliary approach should be considered rather than the direct transfacial approach in view of stability, cosmetic effects, and familiarity.