Abstract
We present the case of a 38-year-old woman that presented with a very slowly enlarging mass of the tongue. MRI revealed a large mass originating in the tongue base and extending to the supraglottic space. Biopsy of this tumor confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma. An endaural approach allowed complete resection of the tumor. Definitive histopathological examination showed a plexiform schwannoma. Schwannoma or neurilemoma represents a benign tumor potentially affecting any nerve. The head and neck region is a relatively common location for schwannomas, but tongue schwannomas are considered to be rare and pose the problem of both clinical and histological differential diagnosis of tongue masses.
Highlights
Schwannoma or neurilemoma is a benign tumor originating from the Schwann cell of the nerve sheath
Plexiform schwannoma is an anatomical variant of schwannoma characterised by intraneural and multinodular growth, most often involving the skin and subcutaneous tissues of the head and neck region [1]
We report the case of a patient presenting a giant schwannoma of the tongue base, presenting as a slowly enlarging mass
Summary
Schwannoma or neurilemoma is a benign tumor originating from the Schwann cell of the nerve sheath. It usually presents as an individual and encapsulated tumor and can virtually affect any peripheral, autonomic, or cranial nerve. Twenty-five to fortyfive percent of all schwannomas are considered to affect the head and neck region, and one percent are intraoral [2]. We report the case of a patient presenting a giant schwannoma of the tongue base, presenting as a slowly enlarging mass. Publication of this case was approved by the Ethical Committee of our institution
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