Submucosal Schwannoma of Tongue: A Case Report and Brief Review of Literature

ABSTRACT

Schwannoma is a benign, slow-growing, tumor of the peripheral nerves without specific symptoms, so that early diagnosis may be difficult. Though approximately 25~40% of all schwannomas occur extracranially in the head and neck region, only 1% of schwannomas are reported in the oral cavity. An 18-years-old female patient visited our clinic with a mass on the middle-right-dorsal surface of the tongue slowly growing for 1.5 years. The patient underwent the surgical removal of the neoplasia under general anesthesia. The mass was well capsulated and a cleavage plane was easily found. There was no recidivation during the course of a one-year follow-up. The treatment for schwannoma is surgical excision of the lesion and recurrence after excision of schwannoma is rare. The final diagnosis is made after a histological examination. Differential diagnoses must be made in relation to malignant tumors and in relation to numerous benign neoformations based on epithelial and connective tissues.