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Published on: May 26, 2023
Jugular foramen schwannoma in a child treated with complete surgical excision
Meharpal Sangra1, Conor Mallucci, Barry Pizer
1Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK. rsangra@doctors.org.uk
Insights
A rare jugular foramen schwannoma was found in a pediatric patient presenting as a posterior fossa mass. This case highlights the importance of considering schwannoma in the differential diagnosis of pediatric jugular foramen tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Pediatric Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Jugular foramen tumors are rare, especially in pediatric patients.
- Posterior fossa masses can originate from the jugular foramen.
- Schwannomas are typically benign nerve sheath tumors.
Observation:
- A 13-year-old boy presented with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure.
- MRI revealed a large tumor originating from the jugular foramen, suggestive of schwannoma.
- The tumor presented as a posterior fossa mass.
Findings:
- Complete surgical excision of the jugular foramen schwannoma was achieved in a single stage via lateral suboccipital craniotomy.
- The patient experienced minimal morbidity following the procedure.
- Histopathology confirmed the tumor as a WHO Grade I schwannoma.
Implications:
- This case underscores the rarity of jugular foramen schwannoma in children.
- Accurate imaging is crucial for diagnosing jugular foramen tumors.
- Differential diagnoses for jugular foramen tumors include glomus jugulare, meningiomas, schwannomas, myxomas, and chondrosarcomas.
Introduction:
A rare case of a large jugular foramen tumour presenting as a posterior fossa mass is described.
Materials And Methods:
The patient, a 13-year-old boy presented with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and on MRI imaging demonstrated the tumour origin within the jugular foramen, with appearances suggestive of schwannoma. He underwent a complete excision as a single-stage procedure thorough a lateral suboccipital craniotomy with minimal morbidity. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma (WHO I). Jugular foramen schwannoma is virtually unheard of in the paediatric population.
Conclusion:
The differential diagnosis of a jugular foramen tumour includes tumours of the glomus jugulare, meningiomas, schwannomas, myxomas and chondrosarcomas. The imaging characteristics are important when considering this differential diagnosis.
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