Lingual Schwannoma: A Rare Presentation Reported in Iraqi Patient

Area of Science:

• Oral Pathology
• Neurosurgery
• Oncology

Background:

• Schwannomas (neurilemmomas) are rare, benign tumors originating from Schwann cells of peripheral nerves.
• While intraoral schwannomas can occur, they are infrequent, representing only 1-2% of all schwannoma cases.
• The tongue is the most common intraoral site, yet tongue schwannomas remain exceptionally rare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of an oral schwannoma located on the lateral border of the tongue.
• To detail the clinical presentation, surgical management, and histopathological findings of this rare tumor.
• To emphasize the efficacy of complete surgical excision for managing oral schwannomas.

Main Methods:

• A case report of a 22-year-old male with a tongue schwannoma.
• Surgical excision performed under general anesthesia with nasal intubation.
• Histopathological examination to confirm the diagnosis and characterize the tumor.
• Transoral surgical approach for tumor removal.

Main Results:

• A well-circumscribed, grayish-white mass was successfully excised.
• Histopathology confirmed a benign schwannoma with Antoni A and Antoni B areas and Verocay bodies.
• The patient experienced a good postoperative recovery.

Conclusions:

• Complete surgical excision using a transoral approach is the preferred treatment for oral schwannomas, offering the best chance to reduce recurrence.
• Long-term follow-up is crucial to monitor for potential recurrence or malignant transformation.
• This case highlights the importance of considering rare pathologies in the differential diagnosis of oral masses.