Abstract
It is uncommon for schwannomas to present as neck swellings. This case presented as painless, cystic and slow growing neck swelling which was excised. Histopathology proved it to be cystic schwannoma. Cystic change occurs in only 4% of all schwannomas. The cystic change renders the schwannoma to mimic second branchial cyst on clinical and radiological examination. Although modality of treatment remains the same which is extracapsular excision, the follow up differs in terms of recurrence.
Highlights
Common differential diagnoses for benign neck masses are branchial cyst and necrotic cervical lymphadenopathy
Schwannnomas are nerve sheath tumours which arise from cells of neural sheath
Other common neck swellings may be considered as differential diagnoses ahead of schwannomas
Summary
Common differential diagnoses for benign neck masses are branchial cyst and necrotic cervical lymphadenopathy. Schwannomas are capsulated, slow growing, benign tumours arising from schwann cells of myelinated nerves, commonly called as neurilemmomas. They may arise from any peripheral, cranial or autonomic nerve. Most common cystic mass in the neck is branchial cleft cyst. Branchial cleft cyst most common congenital cyst arising anterior to sternocleidomastoid. This case is a rare presentation of cystic schwannoma demonstrating the classic location and CT signs of a branchial cyst in a 36-year female patient with left sided neck mass. Tumour was excised and histopathology revealed the tumour to be cystic schwannoma
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