Unusual intramaxillary plexiform schwannoma.

BACKGROUND: Neoplasms of peripheral nerve in the head and neck region are of common occurrence, but origin in the oral and para-oral tissues is uncommon and they rarely occur centrally within the jaws. Schwannoma is a benign neoplasm originating from the neural sheath of peripheral soft tissues, but its occurrence within the jaw bones is most unusual. Plexiform schwannoma is a unique variant of Schwann cell tumours having plexiform pattern. Literature revealed only one case of plexiform schwannoma of the jaw bones, i.e. involving the mandible.

CASE REPORT: In this report, we present the first documented case of intraosseous plexiform schwannoma of the maxilla, an extremely rare benign neurogenic tumour treated surgically.

DISCUSSION: Schwannoma is a benign neoplasm originating from the neural sheath of peripheral soft tissues, but to occur within the jaw bones is exceptional. Plexiform schwannoma is a rare variant of Schwann cell tumour having plexiform pattern of intraneural growth with multinodularity. Plexiform schwannoma is a benign neoplasm with no malignant potential, but recurrences are evident if excised incompletely. Plexiform schwannoma has similar clinical and histopathological features as that of plexiform neurofibroma which has high malignant potential; hence, it is imperative to correctly diagnose and differentiate this lesion as treatment modality of these two lesions differs.