Neurilemoma of the sphenoid sinus.

Abstract

Neurogenic tumors of the upper respiratory tract are uncommon. These tumors may arise from elements of the neural crest, sympathetic neural tissue, neuroglial tissue, and peripheral nerve. From peripheral nerve can arise the neurofibroma, or, less commonly, the neurilemoma that arises from the sheath of Schwann. Although neurilemomas have been found in almost all regions of the body, to our knowledge, no previous report of a neurilemoma of the sphenoid sinus could be found in the literature. Two patients with neurilemoma of the sphenoid sinus have been treated at the UCLA Hospital during the past four years. The first patient had a subtotal excision performed by two craniotomy approaches; the second patient underwent a total removal by a transantral approach.