Schwannoma of the jugular foramen

Two cases of schwannoma limited to the jugular foramen are described. This entity may clinically and radiologically resemble glomus jugulare tumors so closely, that only careful histological examination of an adequate surgical tumor specimen can provide a definitive diagnosis. Since documentation of this form of neurogenic tumor is lacking in the literature, it suggests that the entity is very rare or that such tumors may be erroneously classified as glomus jugulare tumors. The two cases in this study were managed surgically by subtotal removal via a wide transmastoid approach.