A Rare Case of Plexiform Schwannoma Involving Cerebellopontine Angle

Abstract

Plexiform schwannoma (PS) is an infrequent variety of benign nerve sheath tumor characterized by multi-nodular (plexiform) architecture and the individual thin capsule. The pre-operative diagnosis of PS is difficult. In this report, we describe a case of PS presented in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) space. Our case involved a 32-year-old woman with one-month history of worsening verbal vagueness associated with unstable gait. MRI revealed a solid-cystic mass with in the left CPA region. The mass was resected completely, and the diagnosis of PS was confirmed by histopathology. While schwannoma commonly occurs in the head and neck, CPA space PS is rare, and pre-operative pathological diagnosis of PS is difficult. MRI studies of PS revealed distinctive features that we found useful in pre-operative diagnosis.