Nasal Schwannoma

A schwannoma is a benign nerve sheath tumuor of myelinated nerves arising  from Schwann cells. In the head and neck region, the most common site is the eighth cranial nerve (vestibulocochlear). Only 4% of schwannomas seen in the head and neck region arise from the nose and paranasal sinuses involving branches of the trigeminal nerve (ophthalmic or maxillary) or from the autonomic nervous system. Case ReportA 29 year old female patient presented to the Ear, Nose and Throat Out Patient Department with the complaints of left sided nasal obstruction and left sided nasal bleed. On anterior rhinoscopy, a single, smooth, greyish, non-pulsatile polypoidal mass was seen in the left nasal cavity seeming to be arising medial to middle turbinate. A provisional diagnosis of benign nasal mass was made and the patient underwent excision under general anaesthesia. On histopathology, an impression of Schwannoma was made. DiscussionSino-nasal schwannomas are a very rare entity with non specific imaging studies. A confirmatory diagnosis can be made only after histopathology. The treatment modality of choice is surgical excision of the mass, taking care to leave no residual, so as to prevent a recurrence.