[Schwannoma of the cervical esophagus: case report and clinical and pathological analysis]

Neurogenic tumors fo the head and neck are relatively rare and often mistaken for other disease processes. Schwannoma (neurinoma, neurilemoma, neurolemoma) is a tumour histologically characterized by the proliferation of schwann cells from the neural sheath of autonomic, cranial or peripheral nerves. We describe a case of schwannoma located in the muscular layer of the cervical esophagus. The clinical and radiological findings are highlighted allowing a retrospective preoperative presumption of schwannoma. Esophageal schwannoma is a very rare entity as only nine cases have been reported so far.