Asymptomatic Benign Cervical Vagal Schwannoma: Is there a Role for Initial Observational Management?

Asymptomatic Benign Cervical Vagal Schwannoma: Is there a Role for Initial Observational Management?

Background: Benign cervical vagal schwannoma is an uncommon neoplasm ideally treated by subcapsular enucleation and neural preservation when possible. Despite this, vocal immobility and dysphonia is often reported postoperatively. The current study retrospectively reviews the existing English literature and correlates subsite location and tumor size with vocal outcomes in this selective group.

Methods: There were 20 cases of lower cervical and 14 cases of parapharyngeal space vagal schwannoma treated by subcapsular enucleation which met the inclusion criteria and were used for cumulative vocal outcome analyses. 73 patients treated by excision or enucleation at both sites were used for pretreatment symptom analyses. Logistic regression models were used to associate vocal outcomes and pretreatment symptoms, with tumor size and location, respectively.