Neurofibroma at an Aberrant Location - A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Neurofibromas are benign tumors of peripheral nerve sheath and are uncommon in cervical part of vagus nerve. A 35-year female presented with nontender swelling on the left side of the neck since 2 months with no family history. Clinical diagnosis was made as? carotid body tumor/parapharyngeal mass. CT neck showed well defined hypodense oval mass in the left upper neck in the carotid space reported as features suggestive of schwannoma. Post-operative diagnosis of left vagal schwannoma was made and sent for histopathological examination. Gross morphology was well circumscribed grey white mass measuring 6x4x3cms with gelatinous cut surface. On microscopy it was neoplasm composed of spindle cells with poorly defined cell borders having buckled nuclei with pale eosinophilic cytoplasm. These cells are arranged loosely in the background of collagenous matrix. No evidence of atypia or malignancy noted. Features consistent with Neurofibroma. Conclusion: Histopathological confirmation is essential for the diagnosis of neurofibroma in cervical part of vagus nerve as it is an uncommon site for the lesion to develop. Keywords: Neurofibroma, Cervical part of vagus nerve, Aberrant site