A case of greater occipital nerve schwannoma causing neuralgia.

Schwannomas are common tumors of the head and neck region, but they rarely develop in the suboccipital region. A 34-year-old woman presented with a left suboccipital mass causing local pain and neck stiffness. Following physical examination, fine needle aspiration biopsy was performed, which revealed benign cytology. In the light of preoperative radiologic examination and intraoperative observations, the lesion was thought to originate from the greater occipital nerve. Following complete excision of the lesion, histopathological diagnosis was made as schwannoma. Apart from mild neck stiffness and transient local paresthesia in the early postoperative period, no complications were seen during a two-year follow-up period.