Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 106, Issue 11 , Pages 956-960, November 2007

Cervical Sympathetic Chain Schwannoma

Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

Received 16 December 2006; received in revised form 22 January 2007; accepted 13 March 2007.

Article Outline

Schwannomas are benign, slow-growing tumors that arise from Schwann cells of the nerve sheath. Those originating from the sympathetic cervical chain are rare. Herein, we present three cases of cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma (CSCS) and describe our experience with the clinical presentation, surgical management, and outcomes of patients with this pathology. All three patients were found to have a pulsatile, non-tender mass located at the level of the angle of the mandible without cervical nerve function deficit. On imaging study, the location of the mass between the prevertebral muscle and carotid artery with outward displacement of the carotid sheath is a typical characteristic of CSCS. Operative excision and sacrifice of a portion of the sympathetic chain remains the treatment of choice. Postoperative Horner's syndrome is predictable and vagus nerve dysfunction or first bite syndrome is also possible.

Key Words:  carotid body tumor , cervical sympathetic chain , neck mass , neurilemmoma , parapharyngeal space , schwannoma

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PII: S0929-6646(08)60067-4

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60067-4

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 106, Issue 11 , Pages 956-960, November 2007

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