Abstract
Background
Neoplasms of peripheral nerve in the head and neck region are of common occurrence, but origin in the oral and para-oral tissues is uncommon and they rarely occur centrally within the jaws. Schwannoma is a benign neoplasm originating from the neural sheath of peripheral soft tissues, but its occurrence within the jaw bones is most unusual. Plexiform schwannoma is a unique variant of Schwann cell tumours having plexiform pattern. Literature revealed only one case of plexiform schwannoma of the jaw bones, i.e. involving the mandible.
Case report
In this report, we present the first documented case of intraosseous plexiform schwannoma of the maxilla, an extremely rare benign neurogenic tumour treated surgically.
Discussion
Schwannoma is a benign neoplasm originating from the neural sheath of peripheral soft tissues, but to occur within the jaw bones is exceptional. Plexiform schwannoma is a rare variant of Schwann cell tumour having plexiform pattern of intraneural growth with multinodularity. Plexiform schwannoma is a benign neoplasm with no malignant potential, but recurrences are evident if excised incompletely. Plexiform schwannoma has similar clinical and histopathological features as that of plexiform neurofibroma which has high malignant potential; hence, it is imperative to correctly diagnose and differentiate this lesion as treatment modality of these two lesions differs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ellis GL, Abrams AM, Melrose RJ (1977) Intraosseous benign neural sheath neoplasms of the jaws. Report of seven new cases and review of the literature. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 44:731–743
Wright BA, Jackson D (1980) Neural tumors of the oral cavity. A review of the spectrum of benign and malignant oral tumors of the oral cavity and jaws. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 49:509–522
Villanueva J, Gigoux C, Sole F (1995) Central neurilemmoma of maxilla: a case report. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 79:41–43
Chi AC, Carey J, Muller S (2003) Intraosseous schwannoma of the mandible: a case report and review of the literature. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 96:54–65
Seppala MT, Sainio MA, Haltia MJ, Kinnunen JJ, Setala KH, Jaaskelainen JE (1998) Multiple schwannomas: schwannomatosis or neurofibromatosis type2? J Neurosurg 89:36–41
Gutmann DH, Aylsworth A, Carey JC, Korf B, Marks J, Pyeritz RE et al (1997) The diagnostic evaluation and multidisciplinary management of neurofibromatosis 1 and neurofibromatosis 2. JAMA 278:51–57
Bavle RM, Thambith LJ, Nanda Kumar H, Srinath N, Paremala K, Sudhakara M (2011) Unusual intramandibular plexiform schwannoma. J Oral Surg 4:51–54
Asaumi JI, Konouchi H, Kishi K (2000) Schwannoma of the upper lip: ultrasound, CT and MRT findings. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 58:1173–1175
Del Gaudio JM (2003) Endoscopic transnasal approach to the pterygopalatine fossa. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 129(4):441–446
Berg JC, Scheithauer BW, Spinner RJ, Allen CM, Koutlas IG (2008) Plexiform schwannoma: a clinicopathologic overview with emphasis on the head and neck region. Hum Pathol 39:633–640
Hebert-Blouin MN, Amrami KK, Scheithauer BW, Spinner RJ (2010) Multinodular/plexiform (multifascicular) schwannomas of major peripheral nerves: an underrecognized part of the spectrum of schwannomas. J Neurosurg 112:372–382
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to sincerely thank Sushrut Lambade for his editorial guidance.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lambade, P.N., Lambade, D., Saha, T.K. et al. Unusual intramaxillary plexiform schwannoma. Oral Maxillofac Surg 17, 137–140 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10006-012-0345-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10006-012-0345-6