Glossopharyngeal schwannomas.

Glossopharyngeal schwannomas are rare entities. Our recent experience with three such cases treated successfully, suggests that recognitton of this tumor as a discrete entity is both desirable and feasible. Although this tumor shares with the far more common acoustic schwannoma the presenting symptom of hearing loss, it may be distinguished by an elicitable history of hoarseness, demonstration of abnormal palatal function and absence of expected findings upons standard radiographic examination of the petrous bones and internal auditory canal. We have found that identification of this tumor may be accomplished with currently available diagnostic technics, including computerized tomography. The authors review the literature and report their experiences regarding preoperative assessment, operative technic and the postoperative course.