Schwannoma of the cervical vagus nerve

Abstract

Nerve sheath tumors arising from the cervical vagus nerve are extremely rare and difficult to diagnose. We report a 14-year-old boy who presented with a several month history of an asymptomatic right cervical swelling. Ultrasound and fine needle aspiration cytology revealed a vascular lesion. He was meticulously evaluated with CT scan and digital subtraction angiography. Surgical excision of the lesion was carried out and histological examination revealed a schwannoma. Schwannoma is a relatively rare tumor and even rarer in children. The incidence of such tumors and the management of our patients are discussed.