Ancient Schwannoma- An Unusual Sinonasal Tumour

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 May;77(5):2168-2172. doi: 10.1007/s12070-025-05463-y. Epub 2025 Apr 10.

Abstract

Schwannomas are benign, well-encapsulated, slow-growing nerve sheath tumours composed exclusively of Schwann cells. Ancient schwannomas, a rare variant, are particularly uncommon in the head and neck region, with very few cases reported in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Here, we describe a case of a 35-year-old male who presented to our otorhinolaryngology department with complaints of right-sided nasal obstruction for the past four years. Imaging demonstrated a lesion with dimensions of 53 × 31 × 46 mm located within the right nasal cavity, involving the middle and inferior turbinate, resulting in expansion of the right osteo-meatal complex, and protruding into the maxillary antrum with thickening of the mucosa. The excision of the lesion was performed using an external approach medial maxillectomy; subsequent histological analysis unveiled the presence of an ancient schwannoma. A comprehensive analysis of existing literature was conducted, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon pathological entity.

Keywords: Ancient Schwannoma; Medial Maxillectomy; Sinonasal; Tumour.