Facial schwannoma of the parotid gland in a child.

Schwannomas may rarely arise from the facial nerve and most commonly occur in the intratemporal part of the nerve. Extratemporal facial nerve schwannomas are extremely rare. Intraparotid schwannomas usually develop in adults and only one pediatric case has hitherto been reported. Herein, we reported the second case of facial nerve schwannoma in a 7-year-old boy who presented with a slow growing, painless preauricular mass of three-year history. Superficial parotid ultrasonography revealed a solid mass with homogenous echogenicity originating from the superficial parotid lobe. There was no facial nerve dysfunction. Superficial parotidectomy was performed. The main truncus and main branches of the facial nerve were found intact. The mass, nearly 3x3 cm in size, was originating from a communicating nerve between the marginal mandibular and buccal branches of the facial nerve. The tumor was removed together with this communicating branch. Histopathologic examination revealed schwannoma. Facial nerve functions were normal after the operation, and no recurrence was encountered in a six-month follow-up.