Giant funicular intrapharyngeal schwannoma

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Oncology

Background:

• Schwannoma is a rare, solitary tumor originating from Schwann cells, which surround peripheral nerve tissue.
• These tumors are believed to arise from neural crest cells.
• Surgical intervention is the primary treatment modality for patients diagnosed with schwannoma.

Observation:

• A rare case of a giant (25 cm x 6 cm x 4 cm) and bizarre-shaped intrapharyngeal schwannoma is presented.
• The patient, a 38-year-old woman, experienced progressive dysphagia due to the tumor's gradual enlargement.

Findings:

• Diagnostic methods included clinical examination, endoscopy, and CT scan, which confirmed the schwannoma.
• Complete tumor resection was successfully achieved through an external surgical approach.

Implications:

• Lateral pharyngotomy combined with tracheotomy offers excellent operative exposure for complete excision of large intrapharyngeal masses.
• This surgical technique facilitates patient recovery without compromising breathing or swallowing functions.