Solitary benign schwannomas in major nerve systems of the head and neck.

Solitary schwannomas of the head and neck are uncommon tumors arising from any cranial or autonomic nerve. Twenty-five percent to 45% of extracranial schwannomas occur in the head and neck. A total of 28 consecutive patients treated be tween January 2000 and August 2006 for solitary schwannomas in different major nerves of the head and neck were included in this study. Most affected trunks were cranial nerves in 14 patients (50%), cervical sympathetic chain in 7 (25%), and brachial plexus in 7 (25%). The most common sign was an isolated well-demarcated lesion placement at the lateral aspect of the neck for those tumors arising from vagus, lingual, and sympathetic nerves. Total resection with nerve conservation was the treatment of choice for these tumors. In 26 patients (94%), no functional sequels were detected; in 2 other patients (6%), Horner syndrome was a consequence of sympathetic chain resection. No relapse was detected in all 28 patients.