Oral and maxillofacial schwannoma (OMSCH): An institutional study of 102 patients.

BACKGROUND

Oral and maxillofacial schwannoma (OMSCH) is a benign tumor originating from the Schwann cells of peripheral nerves in the oral and maxillofacial region, whose diagnosis and treatment remain challenging.

METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed OMSCH cases treated at our institution from January 2020 to June 2022. Demographics, clinical features, diagnostic methods, surgical approaches, and postoperative pathology were comprehensively evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients with OMSCH were included, ranging from 8 to 86 years, with a notable female predominance. The parotid gland was the most frequent site of involvement, while tongue was the most commonly affected structure within the oral cavity. Seventy-one patients (69.6 %) had tumors exceeding 2 cm in size. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exhibited the highest diagnostic accuracy (20/46, 43.5 %). Eighty-five patients (83.3 %) underwent complete surgical resection, with intracapsular enucleation primarily employed for facial nerve schwannomas. Postoperative histopathology revealed a characteristic biphasic pattern and prominent S100/SOX10 immunohistochemical staining. Postoperative complications included tongue deviation in one patient and facial paralysis in 17 patients (16.7 %). No recurrences were observed during follow-up (30-69 months).

CONCLUSION

OMSCH is a rare tumor with limited diagnostic accuracy. MRI remains the preferred diagnostic modality, and surgical intervention generally results in favorable outcomes.