A novel technique for surgery of extracranial schwannoma to preserve neurological function

Abstract

Schwannomas are benign encapsulated tumor arising from Schwann cells of the nerve sheath. Large schwannomas of the neck present as neck mass and arise from major nerve such as vagus and cervical sympathetic chain. Surgical excision is the standard of management of such tumors but result in permanent nerve damage. Here, we present a case of 35-year-old female with schwannoma arising from vagus nerve with the intact neurological function of the nerve. We removed the tumor by intracapsular dissection, leaving behind the capsule, preserving the function of the nerve.

Keywords

• Intra-capsular dissection
• parapharyngeal space
• schwannoma