A schwannoma of the hypoglossal nerve presenting as a malignant tumour of the oral floor
Fakhry, N.; Turner, F.; Duflo, S.; Giovanni, A.; Zanaret, M.
Revue de Laryngologie - Otologie - Rhinologie 130(3): 189-191
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-1334 PMID: 20345077 Document Number: 635099
We describe a case of an unusual schwannoma of the hypoglossal nerve presenting clinically as a malignant tumour of the floor of the oral cavity. A 77-year-old woman presented with a bulky tumour located between the left anterior floor of mouth and the ventricular portion of the tongue. The tumour was ulcerated, painful and presented with a necrotic aspect. Neurological examination revealed a mild left hemiparesis of the tongue. MRI and CT showed a circumscribed tumour with a broad necrotic centre. The patient underwent a transoral excision of the tumour under general anaesthesia. Schwannomas are generally managed by complete surgical excision but they can mimic primary or metastatic cancer in the head and neck, preoperative diagnosis is therefore necessary to avoid a wide excision.