Background: Solitary intracranial schwannomas not related to major nerves or neurofibromatosis as well as paranasal schwannomas are rare. Schwannomas simultaneously involving the paranasal sinuses and intracranial cavity are even rarer.
Methods: We report four cases of schwannomas simultaneously involving the intracranial cavity and paranasal sinuses. They were successfully managed by surgery. The literature on such tumors is reviewed.
Results: All patients were young adults; the male to female ratio was 1:3. In two patients, the tumor was predominantly intracranial with extension into the sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses, whereas in the other patients, the tumor was located predominantly in the paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx with intracranial extension. Radiologically, bone destruction was seen in three cases. The tumors were totally removed piecemeal with repair of the basal dura. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma in all four cases. Three patients are alive and well; one of them was reoperated for a recurrence.
Conclusions: These tumors should be excised completely if possible. Radiologically, bone erosion or destruction are suggestive of malignancy but histopathology clinches the diagnosis. Therefore, drastic surgery should be avoided in these cases. Surgery is generally curative in these massive schwannomas.