title: Sympathetic Chain Schwannoma Resembling Carotid Body Tumour.
abstract: Schwannomas are rare, benign nerve sheath tumours of parapharyngeal space. Differential diagnosis should include salivary gland tumours, paragangliomas, neurofibromas, and metastatic lymph nodes. The tumours may arise from vagus nerve and cervical sympathetic chain (CSC). Diagnosis is usually made by imaging techniques: contrast CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is useful diagnostic procedure but poor results are seen in neurogenic tumours. Rarely, a vascular CSC schwannoma at the level of carotid arteries bifurcation may mimic carotid body tumour (CBT) on imaging techniques, especially if they are vascular, causing splaying of internal and external carotid arteries. Clinically patient was asymptomatic except for a pulsatile swelling in neck for 5 years. The presented case resembled CBTclinically, on ultrasound and on imaging techniques causing splaying of carotid arteries. FNAC was inconclusive and was always hemorrhagic. During operation, it was found to be CSC schwannoma just posterior to carotid body. CSC was sacrificed and patient developed Horner syndrome postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Islamabad Medical and Dental College, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Tallat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Najeeb
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Musaddiq
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002342:Carotid Artery, External / Q000473:pathology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006732:Horner Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000473:pathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome