Infraorbital nerve schwannoma: a rare cause of upper jaw swelling.

INTRODUCTION

Schwannoma of the infraorbital nerve is a rare entity, with lesser than a dozen cases reported in literature and only one from India.

REPORT

This article reports a 23-year-old male presenting with a painless swelling in the cheek, which was eventually diagnosed as infraorbital nerve schwannoma. He underwent a complete excision of the tumor via a Caldwell Luc approach and continues to be disease free on 3 year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Despite its rarity, infraorbital nerve schwannomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis, of upper jaw swelling. We recommend the Caldwell Luc approach as safe, effective and cosmetically acceptable, for anteriorly based infraorbital schwannomas, and review literature on this unusual entity.