Solitary olfactory groove schwannoma: case report with review of the literature

Abstract

A 45-year-old man presented with headaches of 6 months' duration and generalized seizures in a cluster 2 days prior to admission. Examination revealed bilateral papilloedema and no focal deficits. CT scan showed an isodense enhancing mass lesion in the right frontobasal region with perilesional edema. Bifrontal craniotomy (with total excision of the tumor) revealed a tumor in the region of the right olfactory groove attached to the cribriform plate. Histopathological examination disclosed it to be a hyalinised schwannoma. Solitary schwannomas arising from the olfactory groove are extremely rare. Only six other cases have been reported so far. The presentation. CT scan findings and histogenesis of the tumor are discussed along with a review of the literature.