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Case report
Stereotactic radiosurgery for hypoglossal schwannoma
  1. Nisha Dabhi1,
  2. Stylianos Pikis1 and
  3. Jason Sheehan2
  1. 1Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
  2. 2University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Jason Sheehan; jps2f{at}virginia.edu

Abstract

Hypoglossal schwannomas (HS) are extremely rare neoplasms. Surgical resection has historically been the treatment of choice but carries a significant risk of postoperative neurological deficits and mortality. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a minimally invasive approach that may afford long-term tumour growth. However, literature to determine the safety and effectiveness of SRS in the treatment of HS is scarce. We report on a patient who presented with progressive headache and dysphagia as well as tongue deviation to the left, due to a space-occupying lesion, consistent on brain MRI with a left HS. Primary SRS using a prescription dose of 12 Gy in a single fraction was used to treat the tumour without complications. By last follow-up, the tumour regressed, and the patient’s symptoms improved. Our case shows that radiosurgery can be safe and effective for the management of HS.

  • neurosurgery
  • CNS cancer

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2021-244849

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors ND, SP and JS collected patient data and were major contributors in writing the manuscript. SP and JS critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.