[Malignant schwannoma of the ENT area]

Malignant schwannomas are uncommon in the head and neck. They are derived from Schwann cells of cranial, cervical or sympathetic nerves and occur as solitary tumours or in association with neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease). We present a patient of 30 years of age with a tumour of the right nasal and paranasal sinus system and a 68-year-old woman with the first described intratracheal malignant epitheloid Schwannoma. After the diagnosis of a malignant Schwannoma wide surgical excision is the recommended treatment, depending on the individual case, eventually followed by radiation therapy. As the tumour is more aggressive in patients with neurofibromatosis, the prognosis is better for patients without neurofibromatosis.