A clinical case report of a Schwannoma on the tip of the tongue.

OBJECTIVES

Schwannomas (neurilemmomas) are benign solitary tumours which arise from the Schwann cells of the neural sheath, most often from the VIII cranial nerve. Extracranially, 25% of all schwannomas are located in the head and neck. Intra-oral development is uncommon and a location in the tongue has been reported in individual cases.

METHODOLOGY

We present a young patient with a schwannoma in the distal right side of the tongue.

RESULTS

The tumour had grown slowly producing no symptoms. The diagnosis was made on histological examination. Surgical enucleation of the mass was uncomplicated and there was no recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

We report a further case of a schwannoma of the tongue, highlighting the need for this to be considered in the differential diagnosis.