Primary neurilemoma of the thyroid gland: report of a case

Neurilemoma, like other non-epithelial tumors, seldom occurs in the thyroid gland. A 57-year-old man was first referred to our hospital with an asymptomatic anterior neck tumor. A solid tumor was detected in the right lobe of the thyroid and an enucleation of the thyroid tumor was performed. The tumor was 35 x 33 x 33 mm in size, and diagnosed as Antoni A type neurilemoma. We were only able to find seven previously reported detailed cases of primary neurilemoma of the thyroid gland. A review of these cases, however, revealed that neurilemoma tends to develop in the right lobe of the thyroid gland. An operation is thus considered necessary and an enucleation of the tumor is appropriate.