Jugular foramen schwannoma: surgical experience in six cases

Schwannomas of the lower cranial nerves are rare tumours. We have surgical experience in six patients.

We have retrospectively reviewed the files of the six patients with jugular foramen schwannomas that were treated in multidisciplinary collaboration in the departments of neurosurgery and ENT.

From a clinical point of view, the most important finding was that these tumours usually mimic a vestibular schwannoma. The imaging findings however always allowed the differentiation. The surgical technique included in all cases a suboccipital approach for the intracranial part. When large, the extracranial extension had to be removed through a lateral cervical or transfacial approach. There was no mortality and minor morbidity, with good functional outcome. In subtotally removed tumours, recurrence occurred.

A combined neurosurgical and ENT approach allows for safe removal of these often large skull base tumours.