Extracranial Hypoglossal Schwannoma: Case Report and Literature Review

In Vivo. 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1489-1497. doi: 10.21873/invivo.13596.

Abstract

Background: Schwannomas are solitary neurogenic tumors originating from the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves. Extracranial hypoglossal schwannomas comprise <5% of all head and neck schwannomas and can mimic submandibular salivary gland tumors.

Case report: We report the diagnostic imaging, surgical treatment, and histopathological findings of a rare case of extracranial schwannoma of the hypoglossal nerve in a 73-year-old female, presented with an asymptomatic swelling in the left submandibular region that had been persisted for approximately three years.

Conclusion: Accurate diagnosis of this rare clinical entity requires comprehensive diagnostics. The optimal therapeutic strategy is nerve-sparing surgical excision, although it can be challenging.

Keywords: Extracranial schwannoma; hypoglossal nerve; submandibular region.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoglossal Nerve / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neurilemmoma* / diagnosis
  • Neurilemmoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Neurilemmoma* / pathology
  • Neurilemmoma* / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome