Facial nerve schwannoma of the accessory parotid gland region in a child managed through a transoral approach.
This case report describes complete transoral excision of a benign facial nerve schwannoma in the accessory parotid region of a child, with preserved facial nerve and duct function, no cutaneous scar, and no recurrence reported over 3 years.
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This case report describes complete transoral excision of a benign facial nerve schwannoma in the accessory parotid region of a child, with preserved facial nerve and duct function, no cutaneous scar, and no recurrence reported over 3 years.
Research significance
The reported case provides preliminary human evidence that a transoral approach can remove a carefully selected pediatric mid-cheek schwannoma while preserving function and appearance; it is only an inference—not established comparative evidence—that this approach may reduce morbidity relative to external surgery in similar patients.
Source abstract
Facial nerve schwannomas arising in the accessory parotid gland region are extremely rare, and paediatric cases have not been reported previously. We present the case of a girl in middle childhood who developed a painless, gradually enlarging mass in the mid-cheek area. Radiologic evaluation revealed a well-defined lesion with imaging features suggestive of a benign neoplasm. A transoral surgical approach was chosen to avoid cutaneous scarring and minimise surgical morbidity. Complete excision was achieved without injury to the facial nerve or Stensen's duct, and histopathology revealed a benign schwannoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no evidence of recurrence was observed during a 3-year follow-up, with the preservation of optimal aesthetic appearance and function. This case highlights the importance of including schwannomas in the differential diagnosis of mid-cheek masses in paediatric patients and supports the transoral approach as a safe and effective alternative to external approaches, even in this age group.