Extirpation of a jugular foramen schwannoma via the transcervical-transmandibular approach.

Schwannomas of the jugular foramen are rare lesions. We present a case of a schwannoma of the spinal accessory nerve that occurred in the jugular foramen and skull base of a 52-year-old woman. The tumor was completely extirpated via a transcervical-transmandibular approach with an excellent functional result. The approach used afforded excellent exposure of the lateral or midline skull base, as well as maximum control of the major neurovascular structures in the upper neck and skull base.