title: Function-sparing intracapsular enucleation of cervical schwannomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We review our series of cervical schwannomas to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intracapsular enucleation for function-sparing tumor resection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 43 tumors in total, including vagal (n = 20), sympathetic (n = 13), brachial plexus (n = 6), cervical plexus (n = 2), and two with no major neural involvement. Of the 16 vagal tumors that underwent enucleation, 15 had near-normal or normal voices at 1 year. Eight had normal vocal cord function, three had a partially mobile vocal cord with normal voice, and four had an immobile vocal cord with near-normal or normal voices. One patient had an immobile vocal cord requiring medialization laryngoplasty and arytenoid adduction. Of the 13 sympathetic schwannomas, three underwent enucleation. All three of these patients displayed Horner's triad in the early postoperative period; however, each of them significantly improved within the first 6 months. Of the patients with brachial plexus schwannomas, four underwent enucleation with no postoperative deficits in motor function to the arm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intracapsular enucleation of cervical schwannomas appears to be an effective long-term oncologic treatment while providing significant improvement in functional outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Netterville
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Groom
mesh_terms: D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*