Case
About this case
Operative video: Schwannoma. The background notes below summarise the anatomy, pathology and approach, with published references.
Reference notes
Background
Notes on this case’s cranial location, pathology and surgical approach, with published sources. General education only, not advice for any individual patient.
Pathology
Schwannoma
Schwannomas are benign, encapsulated tumours of Schwann cells that grow eccentrically from a nerve, most commonly the vestibular nerve (acoustic neuroma) but also the trigeminal and jugular-foramen nerves. They displace rather than infiltrate the parent nerve.
Options are observation, radiosurgery or microsurgical resection with cranial-nerve monitoring, chosen by size, growth and the status of hearing and facial-nerve function.
References
