Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2004 Mar;47(3):279-281.

Cervical Sympathetic Chain Neurilemmoma with Postoperative Horner Syndrome

• Cho JG
• Song JS
• Woo JS
• Lee HM

Abstract

Neurilemmoma arising from the cervical sympathetic chain is not common. It is most often manifested as a solitary, benign, and slow-growing mass, and its malignant degeneration is rare. Recently, we experienced a case of schwannoma arising from cervical sympathetic chain. A 43-year-old woman presented a left neck mass that was found incidentally. Measuring approximately 3x3 cm, the mass was located medial to the left sternocleidomastoid muscle at the level of the carotid bifurcation. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was performed, but no diagnostic information was given. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a heterogenous, poorly-demarcated mass in the left poststyloid parapharyngeal space, displacing the carotid artery anteriorly and the internal jugular vein laterally. Tumor was excised via transcervical approach. Postoperatively, the patient exhibited mild miosis with ptosis in the left eye. We report this case with a brief review of literature.

Keyword

Neurilemmoma; Sympathetic nervous system; Horner syndrome

MeSH Terms

Adult
Biopsy
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Carotid Arteries
Female
Horner Syndrome*
Humans
Jugular Veins
Miosis
Neck
Neurilemmoma*
Sympathetic Nervous System