Submandibular region Schwannoma: A case report

Abstract

Approximately 25-40% of the total schwannomas, are head and neck Schwannomas, they may originate from nerve sheath of the peripheral, cranial or autonomic nerves. We report a case of Schwannoma of right side Submandibular region in a 25 year old female with no significant dental, personal or medical history. Schwannomas are slowly progressive benign lesions, the patient presents with a mass or swelling that is growing in size slowly. The lesions are usually painless non-tender, smooth swelling beneath the mucosa with no changes in the overlying skin. An Ultrasound revealed well circumscribed hypoechoic solid lesion with internal vascularity. The lesion on T1 weighted MRI images exhibits homogenous isointensity and on T2 weighted MRI images exhibits heterogenous hyperintensity on contrast enhanced T1 MRI images it exhibits salt and pepper type of enhancement. The diagnosis of Schwannoma is confirmed histopathologically by showing the presence of Antoni type A cells and Antoni type B cells, nuclear palisading, whirling of cells and Verocay bodies. This tumor may have originated from an autonomic nerve of the submandibular gland.