Jugular foramen schwannomas: diagnosis and suggestions for surgical management.

Schwannomas arising in the parapharyngeal space are rare lesions; however, those originating in the jugular foramen are even less common. Two cases, each with marked intra- and extracranial extensions, are discussed. Clinical presentation and preoperative evaluation emphasizing computerized tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging will be presented. An aggressive two-stage surgical approach consisting of a retrosigmoid craniectomy combined with infratemporal removal is advocated for those lesions arising within the jugular foramen.