Parapharyngeal Space Schwannoma: Report of a Case with Brief Review

Schwannomas are benign, encapsulated, slow-growing tumors originating from Schwann cells of the peripheral nerve sheath. Approximately 25-40% of cases occur in the head and neck region, of which one percent has been reported in the oral cavity. They are usually asymptomatic and malignant transformation is rare. Few cases of intraoral schwannoma occurring on the tongue, the floor of the mouth, palate, gingiva, vestibule, lips, salivary glands and the mental nerve region have been reported in the medical literature. This paper reports a rare presentation of an intraoral schwannoma located in the parapharyngeal space arising from the parotid gland in a 31- year-old female patient.