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Case Reports
. 2011:2011:762524.
doi: 10.1155/2011/762524. Epub 2011 Nov 24.

Giant plexiform schwannoma of the tongue

Lluís Nisa  1 , Toni von Büren, Amine Tiab, Roland Giger
Affiliations
Case Reports

Giant plexiform schwannoma of the tongue

Lluís Nisa et al. Case Rep Otolaryngol. 2011.

Abstract

We present the case of a 38-year-old woman that presented with a very slowly enlarging mass of the tongue. MRI revealed a large mass originating in the tongue base and extending to the supraglottic space. Biopsy of this tumor confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma. An endaural approach allowed complete resection of the tumor. Definitive histopathological examination showed a plexiform schwannoma. Schwannoma or neurilemoma represents a benign tumor potentially affecting any nerve. The head and neck region is a relatively common location for schwannomas, but tongue schwannomas are considered to be rare and pose the problem of both clinical and histological differential diagnosis of tongue masses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Oral cavity examination showing a large mass of the tongue base.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Magnetic resonance imaging of the head and neck assessing the deep extension of the tongue mass.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Per-operative aspect of the tongue schwannoma.
Figure 4
Figure 4
H&E stain (×20) of the plexiform schwannoma, displaying the typical palisading organisation (white arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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