A facial nerve schwannoma masquerading as a vestibular schwannoma

Schwannoma of the facial nerve is an extremely rare condition with an incidence far lower than that of vestibular schwannoma. We discuss the case of a woman who had been diagnosed as having vestibular schwannoma and referred to our hospital. Initially, we concurred with the diagnosis, but on reassessment of magnetic resonance imaging scans before surgery, we revised the diagnosis to facial nerve schwannoma. This allowed us to counsel the patient appropriately preoperatively regarding the expected outcome. We discuss the importance of this case and the lessons to be learned from it.