Prolonged cricopharyngeal muscle spasm after resection of the cervical vagus nerve in a 15-year-old.
Cervical vagal schwannomas are rare pediatric head and neck neoplasms that present a surgical challenge if the nerve is intimately involved with the mass. In some instances, resection of the vagus nerve with the mass is required. This will usually result in vocal cord paralysis and uncommonly dysphagia due to unilateral cricopharyngeal spasm. We present a case in which these two complications resulted in significant dysphagia and aspiration, which improved with expectant management.
Bhayani
Mihir K
MK
Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
MacCracken
Ellen
E
Frim
David
D
Baroody
Fuad M
FM
D000293:Adolescent; D002572:Cervical Plexus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D049631:Esophageal Sphincter, Upper / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy