Intraparotid facial nerve schwannoma: management decision based on facial nerve function. The Mayo Clinic Experience
✍ Scribed by Brian C Gross; Kerry D. Olsen; Eric J. Moore
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2011
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 443 KB
- Volume
- 121
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0023-852X
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
BACKGROUND
Facial nerve schwannomas are extremely rare tumors with an estimated incidence of 0.2 to 1.5% of parotid tumors. They can occur at any location along the facial nerve from the cerebelopontine angle to the most peripheral branches, and only 9% involve a portion of the intraparotid facial nerve. Early diagnosis is critical in order to optimize the long term functional outcome of the facial nerve. Unfortunately, no diagnostic study is sensitive or specific. Most intraparotid facial nerve schwannomas (IPFNS) are diagnosed intraoperatively based on the tumor's intimate association with the facial nerve and frozen histopathology.