9/22/2011

SCHWANNOMAS

Schwannoma specimen
Schwannomas are peripheral nerve tumours of nerve sheath origin which are usually benign. These lesions are uncommon but we operated on two during my last trip. Both patients presented with a large neck mass which was unsightly but asymptomatic. 






Schwannoma beneath the carotid 

In the neck, these tumors can be intimately involved with the carotid artery and/or the jugular vein. In the case of our male patient, the tumor was growing under the carotid and pushing it outward. The tumor came out easily once we dissected it free from the carotid. 





Schwannoma excised
Scwannoma specimen
These tumors are fun to remove and have a nice name.