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J Neurol Surg Rep 2014; 75(01): e144-e148
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1376424
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Atypical Presentation of Sinonasal Cellular Schwannoma: A Nonsolitary Mass with Osseous, Orbital, and Intracranial Invasion

John Gencarelli
1   Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
,
Ryan Rourke
1   Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2   The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
,
Tracey Ross
1   Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2   The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
,
Denis H. Gravel
2   The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
3   Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
,
Bibianna Purgina
2   The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
3   Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
,
David Jordan
2   The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
4   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
,
Charles Agbi
2   The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
5   Division of Neurosurgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
,
Shaun J. Kilty
1   Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2   The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
6   The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

22 October 2013

03 April 2014

Publication Date:
24 June 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Objective Sinonasal cellular schwannoma represents < 4% of head and neck schwannomas. These benign tumors are typically confined to the nasal cavity or ethmoid sinus. We describe an atypical case of sinonasal cellular schwannoma with diffuse paranasal sinus involvement and both intraorbital and intracranial extension.

Results A 62-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of right orbital proptosis and right-sided headache. Subsequent imaging revealed an invasive paranasal sinus mass extending through the skull base and displacing the right orbit. Preoperative biopsies were not diagnostic but revealed a spindle cell lesion suspicious for malignancy based on lack of encapsulation, infiltration of the sinonasal submucosa, and osseous invasion. The patient underwent open skull base surgery, and pathology confirmed a S100-positive nonencapsulated cellular schwannoma.

Conclusion An atypical case of sinonasal cellular schwannoma with intracranial extension is reported. Its presentation is contrary to the common view that these are isolated solitary lesions of the nasoethmoid region. We suggest that sinonasal cellular schwannoma be considered in the differential diagnosis of a poorly defined invasive paranasal sinus mass, particularly following biopsy.

Keywords

cellular schwannoma - nasal cavity - sinuses - paranasal - intracranial

Note

This material has never been published and is not currently under evaluation in any other peer-reviewed publication.


 

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