Wednesday, May 12, 2010


Schwannoma in the parapharyngeal space ( Glossopharyngeal Nerve)

Tumors near the carotid bifurcation are usually diagnosed as carotid body tumors. This patient was also initially diagnosed as a case of carotid body tumor but after the surgery, the biopsy report came as Schwannoma and it was connected with the Glossopharngeal nerve. The Vagus nerve and carotid arteries are separated from the tumor but Glossopharyngeal nerve could not be separated from the tumor and the tumor was removed with nerve. The photograph is showing the relationship between the deep seated tumor and carotid artery bifurcation. The tumor was removed without sacrificing the carotid artery branches.