ABSTRACT
Extracranial head and neck neurogenic tumors are rare and usually revealed by histological examination. The aim of this study was to review the clinical, radiological and therapeutic particularities of these tumors
Methods: This retrospective study concerns 47 patients with neurogenic tumors of the head and neck, operated on between 1989 and 2011 [22 years period]. All patients had complete physical examination and ultrasonography was performed when a cervical extension was found. CT scan and MRI were performed in 16 cases. Minimum follow up was 4 years
Results: A sinusonasal tumor was found in 9 cases and a cervical mass was seen in 28 cases. Parapharyngeal extension was observed in two cases
Two patients had tympano-jugular glomic tumors and 8 of them had a cervical soft tissue tumor
Complete surgical resection was performed in 46 patients
Histological examination revealed a benign tumor in 91% of cases [n=43], 24 of them were schwannomas. Malignant tumors were seen in 4 cases: esthesioneuroblastoma [3 cases] and malignant schwannoma [1 case]. These patients received post operative radiotherapy
After surgery, two patients had Claude Bernard Horner syndrome and one had a definitive facial nerve palsy
Conclusion: Extracranial head and neck neurogenic tumors may have several aspects depending on their localisation and their histological type. Surgery, when performed, should be complete with minimum complications