Four Cases of Cervical Sympathetic Chain Schwannoma and Review of Literature

Abstract

Schwannomas are benign, solitary and well-differentiated tumors originating from schwann cells. They may originate from any of the peripheral, cranial or autonomic nerves of the body with the exception of the olfactory and the optic nerves. This tumor most often presents as a slow growing asymptomatic solitary neck mass which rarely undergoes malignant transformation. Schwannomas arising from the cervicalsympathetic chain are very rare. Only < 65 cases have been reported in the literature to date. Computed tomography with contrast medium or magnetic resonance imaging is essential to the initial workup for cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma (CSCS). Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for this tumor. Only surgical observation of the lesion and the nerve from where it originates, and histologic examination of the specimen, can lead to a correct diagnosis. We report four cases of cervical sympathetic chain schwannomas presented in our department during last two and half years which were treated by surgical excision. How to cite this article Divya GM, Ramachandran K, Nampoothiri PM, Sunil Kumar KP. Four Cases of Cervical Sympathetic Chain Schwannoma and Review of Literature. Int J Head Neck Surg 2015;6(2):86-89.