A Case of Hypoglossal Neurilemmoma in the Submandibular Space / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Although neurilemmomas can arise from all types of cranial nerves except the optic and olfactory nerves, a hypoglossal neurilemmoma is extremely rare. Furthermore, since this neurilemmoma usually develops in the intracranial portion of the hypoglossal nerve, a hypoglossal neurilemmoma in the submandibular region is unfamiliar even to head and neck surgeons. However, the preoperative diagnosis of hypoglossal neurilemmoma in the submandibular region is very important because of the possibility of sacrificing the hypoglossal nerve during surgery under the incorrect impression of a salivary gland tumor. Therefore, we report a case of hypoglossal nerve neurilemmoma occurring in the submandibular area with a review of the literature focusing on preoperative differential diagnosis.