OBJECTIVES: Schwannomas (neurilemmomas) are benign solitary tumours which arise from the Schwann cells of the neural sheath, most often from the VIII cranial nerve. Extracranially, 25% of all schwannomas are located in the head and neck. Intra-oral development is uncommon and a location in the tongue has been reported in individual cases. METHODOLOGY: We present a young patient with a schwannoma in the distal right side of the tongue. RESULTS: The tumour had grown slowly producing no symptoms. The diagnosis was made on histological examination. Surgical enucleation of the mass was uncomplicated and there was no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: We report a further case of a schwannoma of the tongue, highlighting the need for this to be considered in the differential diagnosis.
OBJECTIVES:Schwannomas (neurilemmomas) are benign solitary tumours which arise from the Schwann cells of the neural sheath, most often from the VIII cranial nerve. Extracranially, 25% of all schwannomas are located in the head and neck. Intra-oral development is uncommon and a location in the tongue has been reported in individual cases. METHODOLOGY: We present a young patient with a schwannoma in the distal right side of the tongue. RESULTS: The tumour had grown slowly producing no symptoms. The diagnosis was made on histological examination. Surgical enucleation of the mass was uncomplicated and there was no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: We report a further case of a schwannoma of the tongue, highlighting the need for this to be considered in the differential diagnosis.