Multicompartmental cystic trigeminal schwannoma as an uncommon differential diagnosis of cerebellopontine angle tumors

Abstract

Trigeminal schwannoma is the second most common intracranial schwannoma yet accounts for less than 0.5% intracranial tumors [1]. Cystic degeneration is uncommon. We would like to report a pathologically proven multicompartmental cystic trigeminal schwannoma in a young adult presenting with chronic headache. A literature review on the imaging features of trigeminal schwannoma is performed to assist radiologists in accurate disease localization and prioritizing differential diagnosis in challenging cases. Confident preoperative radiological diagnosis would directly affect management strategies.

Keywords

• Cerebellopontine angle tumors
• Trigeminal cystic schwannoma
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Tomography
• X-ray computed