Lingual neurofibroma causing dysaesthesia of the tongue

Neurofibroma is a benign tumour derived from the neural sheaths of peripheral nerves and composed of Schwann cells, fibroblast-like cells and intermediate cells. The usual clinical presentation of an oral neurofibroma is swelling. A 62-year-old woman was referred to our department of otorhinolaryngology with irritation and dysaesthesia of the lateral aspect of the tongue. The only finding was a slightly red area from which a biopsy was taken. The macroscopic findings observed by the surgeon were consistent with normal tongue tissue. The histopathological examination showed a small, rounded tumour closely approximated to an invagination of the surface epithelium and with a small lymphatic infiltrate. The tumour was a neurofibroma. A Schwannoma type B was considered but the presence of small nerves and positive neurofilament reaction favoured a neurofibroma. The patient had no other neurofibromas or skin lesions. At a 3-week follow-up visit all symptoms had resolved.