title: Ancient schwannoma of the parapharynx causing dysphagia: a rare entity.
abstract: A schwannoma is a benign, encapsulated tumour that is derived from neural sheath (Schwann) cells. Approximately 25-40% of schwannomas occur in the head and neck. The most common site is the parapharyngeal space of the neck; oropharyngeal occurrence is extremely rare. Among the  various histological types of schwannomas reported to date, the ancient (degenerative) variant is the most rare. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an ancient schwannoma in the parapharynx with an extensive oropharyngeal component causing dysphagia. Dysphagia was the prominent symptom  because of the location and volume of the lesion. The tumour was excised via a transcervical approach.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Services, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India. drsuhailsayed@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Sayed
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chaukar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arya
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: D'cruz
mesh_terms: D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000150:complications*; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*