European Journal of Scientific Research - EuroJournals
European Journal of Scientific Research - EuroJournals
European Journal of Scientific Research - EuroJournals
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<strong>European</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Scientific</strong> <strong>Research</strong><br />
ISSN 1450-216X Vol.14 No.3 (2006), pp. 434-438<br />
© Euro<strong>Journal</strong>s Publishing, Inc. 2006<br />
http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr.htm<br />
Sublingual Schwannoma in a Nigerian African-a Case Report<br />
Rahman G.A<br />
Consultant General Surgeon, Dept <strong>of</strong> Surgery<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Ilorin Teaching Hospital<br />
Ilorin-Nigeria<br />
E-mail: garahman1@yahoo.com<br />
Alabi.B.S<br />
Consultant ENT/Head&Neck Surgeon, Dept <strong>of</strong> Otolaryngology<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Ilorin Teaching hospital<br />
P.O.Box 4210, Ilorin-Nigeria<br />
Email: alabibs@yahoo.com<br />
Afolabi.O.A<br />
Senior Registrar, ENT/Head&Neck Surgeon, Dept <strong>of</strong> Otolaryngology<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Ilorin Teaching hospital<br />
Ilorin-Nigeria<br />
Bramoh.K.T<br />
Consultant Radiologist, Dept <strong>of</strong> Radiodiagnosis<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Ilorin Teaching Hospital<br />
Ilorin- Nigeria<br />
Buhari.M.O<br />
Consultant Histopathologist, Dept <strong>of</strong> Morbid Anatomy&Histopathology<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Ilorin Teaching Hospital<br />
Ilorin-Nigeria<br />
Introduction<br />
Schwannoma is an encapsulated tumour derived from Schwann cells around the peripheral, cranial and<br />
autonomic nerves 7 . It generally develops from the sensory nerves, rarely from the motor nerves. One <strong>of</strong><br />
the favoured sites is the head and neck area (25-45%) but occurs intracranially mostly 7 . The incidence<br />
<strong>of</strong> Schwannoma in the oral floor is extremely low. It occurs regardless <strong>of</strong> age or sex grows slowly and<br />
is usually painless. The tumour may arise at any age, some series have reported that it is common in<br />
adults in contrast to the neur<strong>of</strong>ibroma, which tends to be commoner in young children. Most reports<br />
suggest that the majority <strong>of</strong> the tumours are present between the ages <strong>of</strong> 10 and 40years 9, 2, 5 .<br />
The aetiology is unknown, but it is postulated that the lesion arises by the proliferation <strong>of</strong><br />
Schwann cells at one point inside the perineurium <strong>of</strong> the nerve. There have been approximately 146<br />
Schwannomas reported from the oral s<strong>of</strong>t tissues 2, 5 . Neurinomas <strong>of</strong> interest to otolaryngologists are<br />
usually solitary lesions, they appear encapsulated but may have invasive tendencies and may recur after<br />
removal 1 .