A Small Glossopharyngeal Schwannoma Presenting with Intractable Vomiting: Case Presentation and Literature Review

Abstract

Glossopharyngeal schwannomas are rare tumors. Clinical and radiologic presentation closely resembles those of vestibular schwannomas. Their clinical presentation varies from vestibulocochlear dysfunction to glossopharyngeal and vagal nerve dysfunction. We report a case of a small glossopharyngeal schwannoma presenting with intractable recurrent sudden episodes of vomiting that subsided after tumor resection. To our knowledge, this is the only case in the literature of glossopharyngeal schwannoma presenting with nerve irritation in the form of intractable emesis. Small glossopharyngeal schwannomas can present with irritative symptoms of the ninth cranial nerve causing vomiting refractory to medical treatment. Intracranial imaging should be considered in the investigation of unexplained intractable vomiting even if the gross neurologic examination is normal.