title: Schwannoma With Cystic Changes in the Pterygomandibular Space.
abstract: Schwannomas are tumors that arise from Schwann cells. Although schwannomas can occur almost anywhere in the body where nerve cells are present, they rarely occur in the head and neck region, including the oral and maxillofacial region. Cystic changes in schwannomas are extremely rare. This report is on a case of schwannoma with cystic changes that occurred in the pterygomandibular space.A 46-year-old woman presented with a complaint of limited mouth opening and pain on the left side of the mandible for 3 months. On panoramic radiography, radiolucency was seen on the left mandibular ramus. On enhanced computed tomography, a 4 × 3 cm cystic mass was found along the inner side of the left mandibular ramus area. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a multiseptated, well-demarcated cystic lesion on the inner side of the mandibular ramus on the left side. Under general anesthesia, the tumor was excised. The final diagnosis was schwannoma with cystic changes. Lower lip hypoesthesia occurred postoperatively. At the 1-year postoperative follow-up, maximum mouth opening was increased to 44 mm, and lip hypoesthesia was improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Aditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jun-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Paeng
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011626:Pterygoid Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods