Vagal Schwannoma Symptoms, Surgery, Complications, Diagnosis

A cervical vagus nerve schwannoma is an exceptionally unusual tumor. Vagal nerve schwannoma often develops between the 3rd and 5th decade of life, does not exhibit sex preference, and most frequently manifests as a painless, slowly-expanding lump on the side of the neck. 

It is an uncommon head and neck tumor that often manifests as a slow-growing lump in the lateral neck. Even though it is a benign tumor, there is a propensity for the tumor to transform into a malignant one; hence, surgical extirpation is required in certain instances. 

Vagal Schwannoma Symptoms

Some of the non-specific signs and symptoms associated with various types of schwannoma are hearing loss, dizziness, trouble walking and maintaining balance, and headaches. The doctor determines whether the patients have vagal schwannoma based on the symptoms and by looking at surgically removed tissues.

Some other symptoms of this disease include:

• A visible bump that is painful to touch. 
• Loss of sensation.
• Feeling like needles and pins.
• Aching, burning, or severe pain.

Vagal Schwannoma Surgery

If the tumor is painful or growing rapidly, it can be removed by a skilled peripheral nerve surgeon. General anesthesia is mostly used during schwannoma surgery. These tumors present themselves as yellowish-white masses that are well-circumscribed when they are operated on. These tumors are surgically removed from the vagus while preserving the neural pathway. Open biopsy and other incomplete treatments make final tumor excision challenging.

Vagal Schwannoma Complications

It is important to weigh the risks and advantages of surgery carefully while dealing with cervical vagal schwannoma, which is a benign condition that necessitates surgical excision. When a patient experiences paroxysmal coughing in response to the probing of a tumor, the treating physician becomes suspicious that the tumor is affecting the Recurrent laryngeal nerve branch of the vagus nerve. Following removal of a cervical vagus nerve schwannoma, the most common and serious consequence is vocal cord palsy.

Vagal Schwannoma Diagnosis

The doctor inquires about the signs and symptoms, goes over the medical history, conducts a routine physical examination, as well as a neurological assessment to determine whether the patient has a schwannoma. If the doctor notices symptoms that point to the possibility that the patient has a schwannoma or another type of nerve tumor, he or she may propose some or all of the following diagnostic tests: imaging using magnetic resonance, computed tomography (CT) scans. In particular, an MRI can reveal information on the size of the tumor as well as its location and relationship to adjacent structures. 

A schwannoma is difficult to diagnose because the clinical examination and medical history are frequently non-specific. Misdiagnoses have been reduced to some extent by the use of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fine needle aspiration (FNA). To determine what kind of tumor the sample contains, a specialist called a pathologist examines cells from it under a microscope and does additional tests.