Technical considerations in a glossopharyngeal schwannoma

Glossopharyngeal schwannomas are relatively uncommon neoplasms. Their clinical presentation varies and may mimic a vestibular schwannoma. The differential diagnosis between vestibular schwannoma and glossopharyngeal schwannoma when tumor extends to cerebellopontine angle and foramen jugulare is rather complicated. This case presents a large right-sided extra-axial tumor in posterior cranial fossa with extension to cerebellopontine angle and brainstem compression, which initially was considered to be a vestibular schwannoma. The early postoperative recovery of the hearing placed in doubt preoperative diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma. Based on this fact and detailed analysis of imaging data we believe that the most likely diagnosis is a glossopharyngeal schwannoma. Brief literature review is provided.