Cystic schwannoma of the tongue base
Authors:
I. Kalivoda; J. Syrovátka; M. Enter
Authors‘ workplace:
Oddělení otorinolaryngologie a chirurgie hlavy a krku, Nemocnice AGEL Nový Jičín, a. s.
Published in:
Otorinolaryngol Foniatr, 74, 2025, No. 1, pp. 71-75.
Category:
Case Reports
doi:
https://doi.org/10.48095/ccorl202571
Overview
Schwannomas are benign tumours arising from Schwann cells, which most commonly occur in the head and neck region; however, their localization in the pharynx is rare. The case report describes a 69-year-old asymptomatic female patient diagnosed with a cystic lesion of the tongue root during intubation due to urosepsis. The tumour was removed trans-orally, and histological examination confirmed a pseudocystic schwannoma. The patient continues to be monitored, is asymptomatic, and shows no signs of recurrence.
Keywords:
neurinoma – schwannoma – cystic – neurilemmoma – base of tongue
Sources
1. Ahmed ME, Hamed M, ElTaher D et al. Tongue base schwannoma; a literature review with a new case presentation. Egypt J Ear Nose Throat All Sci 2019; 20 (2): 41–46. Doi: 10.21608/ejentas. 2019.3168.1006.
2. Kamath MP, Kini H, Shenoy SV et al. Schwannoma of the base of tongue – a rare presentation. Egypt J Ear Nose Throat Allied Sci 2014; 15 (1): 61–64. Doi: 10.1016/j.ejenta.2013.11.004.
3. Haider MY, Rahim M, Bashar NMK et al. Schwannoma of the base of the tongue: a case report of a rare disease and review of literature. Case Rep Surg 2020; 2020: 7942062. Doi: 10.1155/2020/7942062.
4. Sannikorn P, Praweswararat P, Jitpakdee S et al. Schwannoma at the Base of Tongue: A Case Report. Ann Otolaryngol and Rhinol 2014; 1 (3): 1015.
5. Badar Z, Farooq Z, Zaccarini D et al. Tongue base schwannoma: differential diagnosis and imaging features with a case presentation. Rad Cas Rep 2016; 11: 336–340. Doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2016.10.001.
6. Lukášek P, Dunajovec D, Žabka P et al. Schwannóm nosovej priehradky. Otorinolaryngol Foniatr 2017; 66 (3): 144–146.
7. Molina RB, Bastitta GV, Prado VP et al. Jose Verocay – Prague‘s pathologist. The history of a Latin--American doctor. Cesk Patol 2018; 54 (3): 147–150.
8. de Diego Rodríguez E, Roca Edreira A, Martín García B et al. Retroperitoneal benign schwannoma. Report of a new case. Actas Urol Esp 2000; 24 (8): 685–688. Doi: 10.1016/s0210-4806 (00) 72527-7.
9. Harada H, Omura K, Maeda A. A massive pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular salivary gland accompanied by neurilemomas of the neck misdiagnosed as a malignant tumor: report of case. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2001; 59 (8): 931–935. Doi: 10.1053/joms.2001.25035.
10. Taha MM, AlBakry A, ElSheikh M et al. Olfactory Nerve Schwannoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Surg J (NY) 2018; 4 (3): e164–e166. Doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1669991.
11. Sharma A, Singh D, Saran R. Primary optic nerve sheath schwannoma: a case report. Br J Neurosurg 2023; 37 (5): 1333–1335. Doi: 10.1080/02688697.2020.1869181.
12. Ramey WL, Arnold SJ, Chiu A et al. A Rare Case of Optic Nerve Schwannoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature. Cureus 2015; 7 (4): e265. Doi: 10.7759/cureus.265.
13. Franzen A, Koegel K. Neurinome im Halsbereich. Laryngorhinootologie 1996; 75 (4): 250–253. Doi: 10.1055/s-2007-997571.
14. Stull MA, Moser RP Jr, Kransdorf MJ et al. Magnetic resonance appearance of peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Skeletal Radiol 1991; 20 (1): 9–14. Doi: 10.1007/BF00243714.
15. Lukšić I, Müller D, Virag M et al. Schwannoma of the tongue in a child. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 2011; 39 (6): 441–444. Doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2010.10.004.
16. Ahlawat S, Blakeley J, Montgomery E et al. Schwannoma in neurofibromatosis type 1: a pitfall for detecting malignancy by metabolic imaging. Skeletal Radiol 2013; 42 (9): 1317–1322. Doi: 10.1007/s00256-013-1626-3.
17. Tamura R. Current Understanding of Neurofibromatosis Type 1, 2, and Schwannomatosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22 (11): 5850. Doi: 10.3390/ijms22115850.
18. Abreu I, Roriz D, Rodrigues P et al. Schwannoma of the tongue – a common tumour in a rare location: A case report. Eur J Radiol Open 2017; 4: 1–3. Doi: 10.1016/j.ejro.2017.01.002.
19. Bansal R, Trivedi P, Patel S. Schwannoma of the tongue. Oral Oncol Extra 2005; 41: 15–17. Doi: 10.1016/j.ooe.2004.09.003.
20. Ying B, Zhu S, Qiao Y et al. Surgical approaches for tongue base schwannoma. J Craniofac Surg 2013; 24 (1): e9–e11. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0b013e 3182668867.
21. Tsushima F, Sawai T, Kayamori K et al. Schwannoma in the floor of the mouth: a case report and clinicopathological studies of 10 cases in the oral region. J Oral Maxillofac Surg Med Pathol 2012; 24 (3): 175–179. Doi: 10.1016/j.ajoms.2011.12. 003.
22. Lollar WK, Pollak N, Liess DB et al. Schwannoma of the hard palate. Am J Otolaryngol 2010; 31 (2): 139–140. Doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto. 2008.11.009.
23. Bhola A, Jadhav R, Borle G et al. Schwannoma of the tongue in a paediatric patient: a case report and 20-year review. Case Rep Dent 2014; 2014: 780762. doi: 10.1155/2014/780762.
24. Moreno-García C, Pons-García MA, González--García R et al. Schwannoma of Tongue. J Maxillofac Oral Surg 2014; 13: 217–221. Doi: 10.1007/ s12663-010-0101-0.
25. Catalfamo L, Lombardo G, Nava C et al. Tongue schwannoma: clinicopathological findings. J Craniofac Surg 2011; 22 (3): 1158–1161. Doi: 10.1097/SCS.0b013e318210bb2f.
26. Fang WS, Wiggins 3rd RH, Illner A et al. Primary lesions of the root of the tongue. Radiographics 2011; 31 (7): 1907–1922. Doi: 10.1148/rg.317095738.
27. Yousem DM, Chalian AA. Oral cavity and pharynx. Radiol Clin North Am 1998; 36 (5): 967–981. Doi: 10.1016/s0033-8389 (05) 70071-3.
28. de Bree R, Westervedl GJ, Smeele LE. Submandibular approach for excision of a large schwannoma in the base of the tongue. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2000; 257: 283–286. Doi: 10.1007/s004050050241.
29. Kransdorf MJ, Murphey MD. Neurogenic tumors. In: Kransdorf MJ, Murphey MD, editors. Imaging of Soft Tissue Tumors. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 1995: 334–338.
30. Wippold FJ jr, Lämmle M, Anatelli F et al. Neuropathology for the neuroradiologist: palisades and pseudopalisades. Am J Neuroradiol 2006; 27 (10): 2037–2041.
31. Spandow O, Fagerlund M, Bergmark L et al. Clinical and histopathological features of a large parapharyngeal neurilemoma located at the base of tongue. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 1999; 61: 25–30. Doi: 10.1159/000027634.
32. Kumar V, Abbas AK, Aster JC. Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 8th ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences 2014.
33. Cohen M, Wang MB. Schwannoma of the tongue: two case reports and review of the literature. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2009; 266: 1823–1829. Doi: 10.1007/s00405-008-0907-2.
34. Fík Z, Chovanec M, Zvěřina Z et al. Funkce lícního nervu po mikrochirurgické léčbě vestibulárního schwannomu. Cesk Slov Neurol N 2017; 80/113 (5): 545–551. Doi: 10.14735/amcsnn2017545.
35. Wang SS, Rizk A, Ebner FH et al. Cystic vestibular schwannoma – a subgroup analysis from a comparative study between radiosurgery and microsurgery. Neurosurg Rev 2024; 47 (1): 291. Doi: 10.1007/s10143-024-02495-w.
36. Jadhav CR, Angeline NR, Kumar B et al. Axillary Schwannoma with Extensive Cystic Degeneration. J Lab Physicians 2013; 5 (1): 60–62. Doi: 10.4103/0974-2727.115925.
37. Ballesteros F, Vilaseca I, Blanch JL et al. Base of tongue neurilemmoma: excision by transoral laser microsurgery. Acta Otolaryngol 2007; 127: 1005–1007. Doi: 10.1080/00016480601110261.
38. Colreavy MP, Lacy PD, Hughes J et al. Head and neck schwannomas–a 10-year review. J Laryngol Otol 2000; 114 (2): 119–124. Doi: 10.1258/0022215001905058.
Labels
Audiology Paediatric ENT ENT (Otorhinolaryngology)Article was published in
Otorhinolaryngology and Phoniatrics
Most read in this issue
- Acute mastoiditis in children – a retrospective analysis of incidence, etiology, and treatment approaches
- Czech version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory
- Focal infection in otorhinolaryngology – non-uniform diagnostic procedure
- An overview of surgical treatment of laryngeal cancer at the Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery of the Medical Faculty and UN Bratislava