Endoscopic removal of an extensive sinonasal schwannoma

ABSTRACT

Schwannoma is a rare, benign and slow-growing tumour which arises exclusively from Schwann cells. Essentially this tumour can be found in any part of the body. In the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, this tumour originates mostly from the ophthalmic and maxillary branches of the trigeminal nerve. The most common clinical presentation is unilateral nasal obstruction. Histological examination is crucial for diagnosis. The main modality of treatment is surgical excision. The type of surgery will depend on the location and extent of the tumour. Even though it is generally considered a benign tumour, there have been reports of potential malignant transformation. We report a case of a 52-year-old man with an extensive nasal mass which was removed endoscopically and histologically confirmed as schwannoma.