Schwannoma of the Cervical Symphathetic Chain: First case report from Oman

Abstract

Schwannomas are benign, encapsulated and slow-growing nerve sheath tumours arising from Schwann cells. The schwannoma arising from the cervical sympathetic chain (SCSC) is a very rare tumour. It usually presents as a slow growing, painless and asymptomatic neck mass, hence preoperative clinical diagnosis is difficult. Radiological investigation and fine needle aspiration cytology make only a small contribution to its preoperative diagnosis, histopathological examination being much more useful. We report here the first case report of SCSC from Oman. It occurred in a 45 year-old female and was successfully excised.

Keywords: Case report; Cervical sympathetic chain; Excision; Oman; Schwannoma.

Figure 1

A & B: Preoperative computed tomography scan of (A) axial and (B) coronal sections of the neck showing a well circumscribed cystic mass (arrows) posterior to carotid sheath in middle of neck.

Figure 2:

Histological microphotograph showing the typical Antoni type A and B pattern of schwannoma (haematoxylin and eosin stain x 40).