Middle ear schwannoma--case report

Schwannoma is one of the common benign middle ear space tumors. The tumors may present with facial nerve paresis or palsy, otologic symptoms and/or parotid mass middle ear schwannomas may originate from the nerves of the tympanic caviti or by extensions from outside the middle ear space. Schwannomas of the facial nerve can occur along any segment, but they frequently involve the geniculate ganglion and extend proximally or distally from there. MRI and CT imaging characteristics are similar to those of vestibular schwannomas. We present the clinical and radiologic features of a middle-space schwannoma originating from facial nerve. The patient underwent middle ear exploration and mastoidectomy. The tumor was of facial nerve origin and was separated from middle ear. The pathologic diagnosis was schwannoma.