Darwish H, Adada B. A Small Glossopharyngeal Schwannoma Presenting with Intractable Vomiting: Case Presentation and Literature Review.
World Neurosurg 2018;
115:101-104. [PMID:
29654959 DOI:
10.1016/j.wneu.2018.04.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Glossopharyngeal schwannomas are rare tumors. Clinical and radiologic presentation closely resembles those of vestibular schwannomas. Their clinical presentation varies from vestibulocochlear dysfunction to glossopharyngeal and vagal nerve dysfunction.
CASE DESCRIPTION
We report a case of a small glossopharyngeal schwannoma presenting with intractable recurrent sudden episodes of vomiting that subsided after tumor resection. To our knowledge, this is the only case in the literature of glossopharyngeal schwannoma presenting with nerve irritation in the form of intractable emesis.
CONCLUSIONS
Small glossopharyngeal schwannomas can present with irritative symptoms of the ninth cranial nerve causing vomiting refractory to medical treatment. Intracranial imaging should be considered in the investigation of unexplained intractable vomiting even if the gross neurologic examination is normal.
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