Olfactory schwannoma: a case report

Abstract

ObjectiveIntracranial schwannomas are frequently located in the VIII cranial nerve, followed by the V and VII cranial nerves, but are quite rare in the olfactory cranial nerves. Here, we report a case of an olfactory schwannoma and review the literature to improve the diagnosis and treatment of olfactory schwannoma.MethodsWe report a case of olfactory schwannoma in a 51-year-old Chinese man who experienced dizziness and no other symptoms.ResultsMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a neoplastic mass located on the anterior cranial base to the right of the midline and near the cribriform plate and sphenoidal plane. The lesion travelled through the cribriform plate into the nasal cavity. This mass was initially thought to be an olfactory groove meningioma. We performed a craniotomy for surgical excision, and the tumor was completely resected, and the skull base was reconstructed at the same time. There were no complications during surgery, and the patient recovered well. The histopathological diagnosis was a schwannoma.ConclusionOlfactory schwannomas are extremely rare and similar to olfactory ensheating cell tumors, and the immunohistochemical staining of leukocyte antigen 7 (Leu7/CD57) can be used to identify them. Although the standard treatment of olfactory schwannoma remains unclear, in all reports, most patients can have excellent prognosis after an effective surgical resection.