Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy ›› 2023, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (1): 53-56.doi: 10.37015/AUDT.2023.220020

• Case Reports • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A Misdiagnosed Cervical Vagal Schwannoma: A Case Report and Review of Its Imaging Features and Differential Diagnosis

Ping Wang, MMa,1, Yuqun Luo, MMa,1, Yunkai Li, MMb, Wensheng Yue, MDa, Duo Huang, MDa, Xuemei Lin, MMc, Shaoli Xie, MMd, Bin Xiong, MMd,*()   

  1. a Department of Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
    b Department of Radiology, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
    c Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
    d Department of Thyroid and breast surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
  • Received:2022-05-14 Accepted:2022-07-02 Online:2023-03-30 Published:2023-03-30
  • Contact: Bin Xiong, MM, E-mail:304035656@qq.com
  • About author:First author contact:

    1Ping Wang and Yuqun Luo contributed equally to this study.

Abstract:

Schwannoma (syn. neurilemoma, neuroschwannoma) is a benign tumor derived from nerve sheath cells (Schwann cells), which is the most common type of peripheral neurogenic tumors. In this case, a patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma on the left side was found to have a predominantly cystic nodule in the ipsilateral neck level 4 by ultrasonography (US), which mistook for ipsilateral cervical lymph node metastasis and was later found to be a vagal nerve sheath tumor by surgery. The article reviews the pathology, imaging findings and differential diagnosis of schwannomas. A meticulous evaluation and comprehensive differential diagnosis are pivotal to reach correct diagnosis.

Key words: Ultrasonography; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Cervical vagal schwannoma; Differential diagnosis