JMCR: Clinical Minute

Facial nerve schwannoma presenting as an occluding external auditory canal mass: a case report and review of the literature.

Published in Biomedical Research

Share this post

Choose a social network to share with, or copy the URL to share elsewhere

This is a representation of how your post may appear on social media. The actual post will vary between social networks

Article Highlights

  • Describes a facial-nerve schwannoma presenting as an occluding external auditory-canal mass.
  • Demonstrates preserved facial function despite tumor origin from the facial nerve.
  • Identifies smooth posterior canal-wall erosion near the mastoid facial-nerve segment as an important CT clue.
  • Shows how the lesion may mimic an aural polyp, cholesteatoma, ceruminous tumor, paraganglioma, or malignancy.
  • Reinforces the risk of facial-nerve injury from an inadequately planned biopsy.
  • Confirms the diagnosis histologically through Antoni A and B architecture and strong S-100 expression.

Clinical Take-Home Message

Normal facial function does not exclude a facial-nerve schwannoma.

A posterior external auditory-canal mass—particularly one accompanied by smooth canal-wall erosion—should be imaged and assessed for a possible facial-nerve origin before biopsy or excision. CT defines the bony anatomy, while MRI generally provides the best confirmation of neural origin and tumor extent.

Follow the Topic

Biomedical Research
Life Sciences > Health Sciences > Biomedical Research