title: Isolated lympho-histiocytic inflammation of the Gasserian ganglion mimicking trigeminal schwannoma.
abstract: We present an unusual case of a patient with trigeminal pain and hypesthesia suggesting trigeminal schwannoma, where histology demonstrated an inflammatory lesion of the Gasserian ganglion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient history and imaging were typical for a trigeminal schwannoma with a dumbbell growth in the middle and posterior fossa. Surgery was performed and resection of a firm mass intermingled with fascicles originating from the ganglion and the mandibular branch was carried out via a subtemporal approach. Histological diagnosis revealed a non-caseating, vaguely granulomatous lymphocyte- and histiocyte-rich inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inflammatory lesions of the Gasserian ganglion are rare but may mimic tumors. Intraoperative biopsies should be taken prior to complete resection to limit neurological deterioration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany. volker.tronnier@neurochirurgie.uni-luebeck.de
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tronnier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pannier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reusche
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Merz
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000473:pathology*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000473:pathology*