title: A facial nerve schwannoma masquerading as a vestibular schwannoma.
abstract: Schwannoma of the facial nerve is an extremely rare condition with an incidence far lower than that of vestibular schwannoma. We discuss the case of a woman who had been diagnosed as having vestibular schwannoma and referred to our hospital. Initially, we concurred with the diagnosis, but on reassessment of magnetic resonance imaging scans before surgery, we revised the diagnosis to facial nerve schwannoma. This allowed us to counsel the patient appropriately preoperatively regarding the expected outcome. We discuss the importance of this case and the lessons to be learned from it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Skull Base Surgery and Neurotology/Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. amitprasai@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prasai
authors.forename: Stephen E M
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Moffat
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome