Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Ear Nose Throat and Head Neck Surgery, cilt.33, sa.3, ss.106-114, 2025 (Scopus)
Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical and demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms, postoperative complications, nerve of origin, and location of schwannomas in patients operated for extracranial head and neck schwannomas. Material and Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for extracranial nonvestibular head and neck schwannomas between January 2008-August 2024 at the Gazi University Department of Ear Nose and Throat were included in the study. Clinical and demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms, tumor location and size, preoperative imaging and biopsy results, nerve of origin of the schwannoma, types of surgical procedures, postoperative complications, and follow-up findings were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The study included 45 patients. 14 (31.1%) of the patients were male and 31 (68.8%) were female, and the mean age was 39.08 years (9-82 years). The most common localization was the parapharyngeal region in 12 patients (26.6%). In 31 patients (68.9%), the nerve of origin could be identified before or during surgery. The nerve of origin was the vagus nerve in 11 patients (24.4%), facial nerve in 9 patients (20.4%), brachial plexus in 4 patients (8.8%), sympathetic trunk in 3 patients (6.6%), and cervical plexus in 2 patients (4.4%). Of the 40 patients in whom the tumor was excised, 17 (42.5%) had postoperative neurological deficit in the nerve of origin after surgery. Conclusion: Schwannomas are usually asymptomatic and slow-growing tumors but may lead to significant morbidity. Although surgery is the definitive treatment, there are different treatment options available considering asymptomatic patients. Patients should be informed that neurological deficits may occur after surgery.