A Case of Vidian Nerve Schwannoma in the Pterygopalatine Fossa treated by Endoscopic Surgery

Abstract

  A 77 years-old female patient presented with a three-year history of oral pain and thirst. Computed tomography (CT) of the head revealed a round mass compressing the surrounding bony structure located in the right pterygopalatine fossa. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the tumor was well-demarcated, with ring-like enhancements on T1-weighted imaging with gadolinium enhancement. The patient underwent endoscopic surgery via a combined transnasal and sublabial transmaxillary sinus approach. The pathological diagnosis was schwannoma and subtotal tumor removal was performed. Postoperatively, the patient's pain reduced, although the oral thirst persisted. The combined endoscopic approach may be a less invasive and more effective surgical alternative for pterygopalatine fossa tumors.