A 63-year-old man with a complaint of snoring and apnea was diagnosed as having severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. His apnea-hypopnea index was 68.3. His soft palate was swollen and the uvula was deviated to the left. A tumor covered by normal epithelium occupied and obstructed the choana and epipharynx. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass measuring 55×55×45mm in this area.
A biopsy was performed and the pathological diagnosis was schwanoma (neurilemmoma).
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was introduced but was ineffective for apnea.
Due to the slow growing tendency of the tumor, transoral resection was planned under general anesthesia and the entire tumor was removed. The postoperative course was uneventful and apnea improved after this procedure.
