Schwannoma Presenting as an Asymptomatic Postauricular Mass

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neuropathology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Schwannomas are typically benign nerve sheath tumors.
• Postauricular masses can have various etiologies, including benign and malignant conditions.
• Differentiating schwannomas from other postauricular masses is crucial for appropriate management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a rare case of a schwannoma originating from the great auricular nerve.
• To highlight the clinical presentation and diagnostic process of an asymptomatic postauricular schwannoma.
• To emphasize the importance of considering schwannomas in the differential diagnosis of postauricular masses.

Main Methods:

• Case report of an adult female with a 5-year history of a right postauricular mass.
• Clinical observation for one year, monitoring for changes in mass size and associated symptoms.
• Surgical excision of the postauricular mass followed by histopathological examination and S100 immunostaining.

Main Results:

• A 6x7 mm cystic lesion was surgically removed from the right postauricular/mastoid region.
• Histopathological analysis confirmed the lesion as a schwannoma.
• The patient experienced stable sensorineural hearing loss but reported headaches and ear fullness prior to excision.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative immunostaining confirmed a schwannoma of the great auricular nerve.
• Schwannomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of postauricular masses.
• Accurate diagnosis of schwannomas facilitates better prognostic discussions with patients.