[Cervical sympathetic chain neurilemmoma--a case report]

Neurilemmoma is benign, slowly growing tumour that arise from nerves. Cervical sympathetic chain neurilemmoma is rare. The majority of neurilemmomas are asymptomatic at the time of presentation. The incidence of Horner's syndrome before excision has been reported only once. Surgical resection almost leaves the patient with a Horner's syndrome.

A 28 years old woman was admitted to Otolaryngology Department with left side neck mass. The tumor was first noticed 6 month later, and it was slowly growing. It was completely asymptomatic. She underwent excision of the tumor through an incision parallel with the anterior border of the strenomastoid muscle.

Histology showed the tumour to be a neurilemmoma arising within the cervical sympathetic chain. During postoperative period in 2 day we observed a left side Horner's syndrome, completely asymptomatic.

Neurilemmomas very rarely arise from the cervical sympathetic chain. They usually present as asymptomatic neck mass. The only complication encountered after surgery is Horner's syndrome, which required no treatment.