Schwannoma is a benign, slow growing encapsulated perineural tumor of neuroectodermal derivation. It originates from Schwann cells of the neural sheath of motor and sensitive peripheral nerve [1]. Schwannomas are solitary and sporadic in the 90% of cases; in this case they usually occur by the 5th -6th decades. In the 10% they are multiple and are associated with Neurofibromatosis type 2 and they usually appear by the 3rd decade. Neurofibromatosis type 2 is an inherited disease with dominant autosomal transmission; people with this disease...

The MR exams of 10 patients -3 men, 7 women (age range 22-86 years)- with head and neck schwannomas, studied between between 2016 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. A 1.5 T superconductive MR device, with 3-4 mm slice thickness TSE T1 and T2, STIR sequences on the axial and coronal planes were used. In 7/10 patients a TSE T2 3D sequence with a submillimetric slice thickness was also employed. In all patients i.v. Gd (0.1 ml/Kg) was administered using FFE T1 fat sat 3D, axial...

The schwannomas were extracranial in 7/10 patients: 3/10 in the carotid space [Fig.1], 2/10 in the prevertebral space [Fig 2], 1 in the cervical posterior space [Fig.3], 1 in the palatine tonsil [Fig.4]. In the remaining 3/10 patients the schwannomas were located: 1 in the mandibular canal [Fig. 5], 1 in the infraorbital canal [Fig 6], 1 in the cerebellopontine angle [Fig 7], (Table 1). The tumour signal was hypointense on T1, hyperintense with cystic areas on T2, heterogeneously hyperintense in T1 after i.v. Gd....

Schwannoma is a challenging condition to the head and neck surgeons and for imaging diagnosis when located in unusual site. MRI allows to better define the anatomical relationships of schwannoma with adjacent structures, especially when T2 3D sequences are employed, providing, due to the more precise topographical localization and signal characteristics, a key for the differential diagnosis and a more adequate pre- and post-surgical assessment.

N. Feo; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose F. Arnone; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose R. Taravella; Palermo, ITALY/IT - nothing to disclose R. Bignone; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose G. La Tona; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose A. Lo Casto; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose

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