Open Access
J Neurol Surg Rep 2015; 76(01): e48-e51
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1544112
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A Rare Finding of Schwannoma of the Vidian Canal: A Case Report

Alisa Yamasaki
1   Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
2   Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Ahmad R. Sedaghat
1   Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
2   Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Giant C. Lin
1   Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
2   Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
William T. Curry
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Helen A. Shih
4   Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Stacey T. Gray
1   Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
2   Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

01 August 2014

01 October 2014

Publication Date:
05 February 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Background Schwannomas of the vidian canal are an extremely rare type of intracranial tumor that can have variable clinical presentations including headache, facial pain, facial muscle paralysis, decreased lacrimation, or nasal dryness. We present an atypical case of an incidentally identified asymptomatic vidian canal schwannoma.

Case Description A 49-year-old woman with a history of multiple sclerosis presented for routine surveillance magnetic resonance imaging that detected an ovoid mass originating in the vidian canal. Given the unusual location of the lesion, an endoscopic endonasal biopsy was performed and confirmed the diagnosis of a vidian canal schwannoma, for which the patient chose to receive fractionated radiation therapy.

Conclusion When a vidian canal tumor is identified, endoscopic endonasal biopsy can be used to confirm the diagnosis before pursuing either surgical or radiotherapy treatment. In particular, fractionated radiation therapy offers a radiobiologically safe means of delivering radiation when there is concern for late radiation-related side effects following treatment completion.