title: A literature review on surgery for cervical vagal schwannomas.
abstract: Cervical vagal schwannoma is a benign, slow-growing mass, often asymptomatic, with a very low lifetime risk of malignant transformation in general population, but diagnosis is still a challenge. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice even if its close relationship with nerve fibres, from which it arises, threats vagal nerve preservation. We present a case report and a systematic review of literature. All studies on surgical resection of cervical vagal schwannoma have been reviewed. Papers matching the inclusion criteria (topic on surgical removal of cervical vagal schwannoma, English language, full text available) were selected. Fifty-three patients with vagal neck schwannoma submitted to surgery were identified among 22 studies selected. Female/male ratio was 1.5 and median age 44 years. Median diameter was 5 cm (range 2 to 10). Most schwannoma were asymptomatic (68.2%) and received an intracapsular excision (64.9%). Postoperative symptoms were reported in 22.6% of patients. Cervical vagal schwannoma is a benign pathology requiring surgical excision, but frequently postoperative complications can affect patients lifelong, so, surgical indications should be based carefully on the balance between risks and benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, LT, Italy. giuseppe.cavallaro@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, LT, Italy. pattaro.giada@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pattaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, LT, Italy. iorio.olga@libero.it.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, LT, Italy. marcello_avallone@libero.it.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avallone
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, LT, Italy. gianfranco.silecchia@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silecchia
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D020421:Vagus Nerve Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*