Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy (Mar 2023)

A Misdiagnosed Cervical Vagal Schwannoma: A Case Report and Review of Its Imaging Features and Differential Diagnosis

  • Ping Wang, MM, Yuqun Luo, MM, Yunkai Li, MM, Wensheng Yue, MD, Duo Huang, MD, Xuemei Lin, MM, Shaoli Xie, MM, Bin Xiong, MM

DOI
https://doi.org/10.37015/AUDT.2023.220020
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 53 – 56

Abstract

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Schwannoma (syn. neurilemoma, neuroschwannoma) is a benign tumor derived from nerve sheath cells (Schwann cells), which is the most common type of peripheral neurogenic tumors. In this case, a patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma on the left side was found to have a predominantly cystic nodule in the ipsilateral neck level 4 by ultrasonography (US), which mistook for ipsilateral cervical lymph node metastasis and was later found to be a vagal nerve sheath tumor by surgery. The article reviews the pathology, imaging findings and differential diagnosis of schwannomas. A meticulous evaluation and comprehensive differential diagnosis are pivotal to reach correct diagnosis.

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