Primary Schwannoma of the Thyroid Gland: A Case Report

Abstract

A 59-year-old female patient was referred to our Ear, Nose and Throat Department at Haseki Training and Research Hospital complaining of neck swelling for the past three months. Physical examination revealed a palpable anterior neck mass measuring 1.5x1 cm in the thyroid gland. The mass was moving with swallowing. Laboratory tests, such as fT3, fT4, TSH and calcium were normal. Ultrasonography showed four-five nodules with the biggest one measuring 12x8 mm. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was done and a few thyrocyte clusters were detected. Thyroidectomy was done with the pre-diagnosis of multinodular goiter. On post-operative examination, the vocal cords were mobile and native bilaterally. Calcium values were normal and the patient was discharged with necessary recommendations. Six-month follow-up was uneventful. Schwannoma can be misdiagnosed as thyroid nodule. Although schwannoma is frequently seen in the head and neck region, it is rarely observed in the thyroid gland. (The Me­di­cal Bul­le­tin of Ha­se­ki 2014; 52: 205-7)

Keywords

• Schwannoma
• neuronal sheath
• thyroidectomy