|
A 34 year-old woman presented with falling to the right side accompanied by vertigo and numbness on the right side of her face. |
| Schwannoma:
(Left) T2-weighted axial MRI; (Right) T1-weighted with
gadolinium axial MRI. Note the nodular mass in the region of the right cerebellar pontine
angle, that enhances with gadolinium. On the T2-weighted scan, note the
associated cyst both to the left and right of the mass. On biopsy, this lesion was
a schwannoma. Schwannomas are histologically benign tumors seen along the course of peripheral nerves, nerve roots, and cranial nerves [especially cranial nerves V (trigeminal) and VIII (vestibulocochlear)]. They may occur in isolation or in association with neurofibromatosis. They arise from the Schwann cells that create the myelin sheath around peripheral nerves. They result in symptoms when they disrupt the function of the nerve from which they arise, or cause mass effect on adjacent structures. |
Revised
11/28/06.
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston