Parapharyngeal neck schwannomas with unusual vascular displacement

This case report illustrates two unusual cases of parapharyngeal schwannomas mimicking carotid body tumors in terms of characteristic vascular displacement. Carotid body tumors classically cause splaying of internal and external carotid arteries demonstrating the Lyre sign on imaging. Also interestingly, both of these cases were seen in younger ages and include cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma and vagal schwannoma. However, these schwannomas revealed hypovascularity on imaging studies allowing differentiation from hypervascular carotid body tumors. Preoperative distinction between carotid body tumors and schwannomas is very important.