Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2007 Jun;50(6):548-551.

A Case of Schwannoma of the Nasal Cavity Mimicking Olfactory Neuroblastoma

• Choe H
• Jun YJ
• Cho WS
• Kim TH

Abstract

Schwannoma is a benign, slowly growing nerve sheath tumor which can arise from any peripheral nerve containing schwann cells. The olfactory and optic nerves, the extentions of the central nerve system, are encased by glial cells and they lack of schwann cells. They do not give rise to schwannomas in the head and neck area. Therefore, it is generally known that schwannomas seldom occur in the nasal cavity occupied by the olfactory nerve. We have experienced a tumor that developed in the upper nasal cavity including the olfactory cleft and ethmoid sinus. Based on the location of tumor development, we initially diagnosed it as an olfactory neuroblastoma, and its biopsy results reported the tumor to be a schwannoma in the nasal cavity. The tumor was completely removed through craniofacial resection. We herein report a case of an olfactory schwannoma with a brief review of the literature in order to alert other clinicians to this rare tumor to expedite appropriate management.

Keyword

Schwannoma; Nasal cavity; Olfactory nerve

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory*
Ethmoid Sinus
Head
Nasal Cavity*
Neck
Neurilemmoma*
Neuroglia
Olfactory Nerve
Optic Nerve
Peripheral Nerves
Schwann Cells