Progressively Enlarging Inferior Alveolar Nerve Canal Radiolucency - Schwannoma?: A Rare Intraosseous Lesion.

ABSTRACT

Neural tumors of oral cavity is a very rare condition and it occurs because of putative changes in the Schwann cells which surround the axonal process, perineural cells which surrounds the nerve fascicles within a nerve fiber and fibroblast cells. Intraosseous neurilemmoma or schwannoma is one such lesion presenting as a focally expanding area of radiolucency along the course of the inferior alveolar nerve canal in an otherwise asymptomatic patient. Intraosseous schwannomas are rare, accounts to 1% of benign primary bone tumors. This article presents a case with the radiographic presentation of intraosseous neurilemmoma of inferior alveolar nerve in an asymptomatic male patient; represented by focally expanding radiolucency along the course of nerve. The follow-up was maintained for 8 years and subsequent radiographs depict the benign nature of the lesion. Also, the change in subjective symptoms like development of paraesthesia and mild pain associated with the progress of lesion is documented in this case.