Neurinoma of the oculomotor nerve. Case report

A 15-year-old boy with a recurrent third nerve palsy who was found to have a neurinoma of the third nerve is described. Unusual features of his presentation and review of the literature relative to this rare tumor are discussed. Tumors derived from Schwann cells, which wrap around the axons of peripheral nerves, are called neurinomas, neurofibromas, plexiform neurofibromas, neurilemomas, and schwannomas. Neurinomas are usually localized in the peripheral nerves. The most frequent site of occurrence of an intracranial schwannoma is the acoustic nerve; however, the tumor may occur along the second, fifth, seventh, 11th, and 12th cranial nerves. Neurinomas of the oculomotor nerves are extremely rare. In the literature, there are only four reported cases clinically manifested and pathologically verified as neurinomas of the third nerve.