Pediatric schwannoma of the tongue: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Neurogenic tumors account for about ten percent of all tumors of childhood, and benign tumor originating from Schwann cells is rare in peripheral nerves. Schwannoma of the tongue is quite rare in children. CASE SUMMARY We present the case of an 8-year-old male with schwannoma in the anterolateral tongue. The mass was slow-growing for one year with no pain and discomfort. He underwent transoral mass excision under general anesthesia. Gross examination revealed a smooth surfaced, 17 mm x 14 mm x 7 mm sized, encapsulated nodule with a clear resection margin. Schwannoma of the tongue was confirmed by the pathological exam. He reported no motor or sensory change, such as dysgeusia or paresthesia, or phonation difficulty during postoperative 12 mo follow-up. CONCLUSION Schwannoma of the tongue is a rare benign neoplasm in childhood. If a painless firm mass is encountered in the tongue of a child, solid tumors like schwannoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis.