A rare lesion of the wanderer’s nerve with an unusual postoperative complication: vagal nerve schwanomma
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20212908Keywords:
Vagal nerve schwanomma, Cervical sympathetic chain, Horner’s syndromeAbstract
Vagal nerve schwannomas are rare parapharyngeal tumours which was first described by Figi in 1933. Hoarseness is the most common symptom. Occasionally, a paroxysmal cough may be produced on palpating the mass. This is a clinical sign, unique to vagal schwannoma. Presence of this sign, along with a mass located on the medial border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, should make clinicians suspicious of vagal nerve sheath tumours. However, in our case, the patient presented to us with a swelling in the neck and no other symptoms. MRI in the pre-operative work-up is helpful in defining diagnosis and in evaluating the extent and the relationship. A careful intracapsular enucleation with nerve-sparing technique remains the treatment of choice in order to avoid nerve injury which can lead to vocal cord paralysis. Horner’s syndrome following cervical surgeries is a rare phenomenon. Its occurrence following excision of a vagal schwannoma can occur due to direct injury to cervical sympathetic chain during excision or indirect injury due to traction on the sympathetic chain. Here is a case report of a patient diagnosed with left vagal scwanomma who developed horner’s syndrome post operatively.
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