Pneumogastric schwannoma: the importance of intraoperative neuromonitoring

Abstract

Schwannomas are encapsulated benign tumors that arise from the peripheral nerve sheaths and account for 0.1% of head and neck tumors. They usually present as asymptomatic lateral neck masses.
Surgical resection is the first-line therapy of these lesions. Intraoperative neuromonitoring is essential, and a neurosurgeon specializing in peripheral nerves needs to participate during surgery. Preservation of nerve functioning is sometimes difficult.
We report the case of a 27-year-old female patient sought medical care due to a mass in the right lateral region of the neck. Computed tomography scan and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging suggested the presence of a pneumogastric schawannoma. The tumor was totally resected with intraoperative neuromonitoring. The patient evolved with transient dysphonia.