Schwannoma (neurilemmoma) of the tongue.
CONCLUSIONS
Schwannoma of the tongue always presents as a painless mass on the lingual surface and exhibits no gender preference. A schwannoma on the base of tongue is usually larger at presentation than one on the tongue itself, since it is asymptomatic initially. Complete resection is achievable and recurrence is uncommon.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the patient demographics, presenting signs and symptoms, tumor location, imaging studies, management, and therapeutic outcomes of schwannoma of the tongue, an uncommon tumor of neuroectodermal origin that may arise from any myelinated nerve fiber.


METHODS
In this retrospective study, records of 10 patients who underwent surgical removal of schwannomas of the tongue or base of the tongue between January 1988 and June 2005 were reviewed and summarized.


RESULTS
The records of five men and five women with ages ranging from 9 to 45 years (mean 27.4 years) were reviewed. The locations of the schwannomas were as follows: four on the lateral border of the tongue, two on the tongue tip, one on the ventral side of the tongue, and three on the base of the tongue. The major clinical sign was a painless mass on the lingual surface. For all patients, no tumor recurrence or complication was noted after tumor extirpation.
Hsu
Yao-Chung
YC
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Hwang
Chung-Feng
CF
Hsu
Ruey-Fen
RF
Kuo
Fang-Ying
FY
Chien
Chih-Yen
CY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005927:Glossectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D009418:S100 Proteins