Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2003 Dec;46(12):1088-1091.

Two Cases of Hypoglossal Neurilemmoma in the Submandibular Space

• Jung MK
• Song CE
• Kim SW
• Kim HT

Abstract

Neurilemmomas are tumors arising from the myelin-producing Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system. Neurilemmomas of the 12th cranial nerve are rare, with most originating intracranially. The rarity of such pathology in the submandibular space makes proper preoperative diagnosis difficult, and is often mistaken to be an inflammatory mass, a malignant lymph node or a salivary gland tumor. The preoperative diagnosis of hypoglossal nerve neurilemmoma in this region is very important in that the patient must be warned of the morbidity of sacrificing the nerve during surgical excision and that the surgeon might be prepared for nerve graft. Therefore, we report recent experience of 2 cases of hypoglossal nerve neurilemmomas occurring in the submandibular area with a review of literature focusing on radiological findings and preoperative differential diagnosis.

Keyword

Hypoglossal nerve; Neurilemmoma; Neck

MeSH Terms

Cranial Nerves
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Hypoglossal Nerve
Lymph Nodes
Neck
Neurilemmoma*
Pathology
Peripheral Nervous System
Salivary Glands
Schwann Cells
Transplants