Management of oculomotor nerve schwannomas in two different locations: surgical nuances and comprehensive review.

Rare tumors with anecdotal reportage, oculomotor schwannomas are most often seen in the oculomotor cistern close to the anterior clinoidal region. Adding to the small series of reported cases of this unusual lesion, we report two male patients in their second decade who presented with different degrees of oculomotor palsy. The location of the lesion was caverno-cisternal in one case and orbito-cavernous in the other. Intricate neurovascular relationships of this lesion, especially in non-cavernous locations, are discussed. The risk of damage to nerve rootlets enmeshed within the lesion is high with attempts at near-total excision, rendering the anatomical preservation of the nerve an arduous exercise. The authors review literature pertaining to this unusual lesion and elucidate surgical nuances which may have a bearing on outcome.