OBJECTIVES: Schwannomas are slow growing and encapsulated benign tumors that arise in nerve sheaths and consist of Schwann cells. About 45% of neurogenic tumors occur in the head and neck, most often in the parapharyngeal space. Neurogenic tumors of the larynx are extremely rare. Laryngeal schwannomas represent only 0.1-1.5% of benign tumors of the larynx, occur most commonly in the aryepiglottic folds, and affect the superior laryngeal nerve more often than other nerves. We report here a case of schwannoma of the larynx and present a relevant literature. CASE REPORT: A 10-year-old girl presented with dysphonia that had started 3 years ago and had worsened over the past 6 months. She also complained of a sensation of having a lump in the throat and dyspnea on exertion. Indirect laryngoscopy with a rigid 70-degree tele-laryngoscope showed a bulging lesion in the left paraglottic space with a false projection string. Computed tomography of the neck with contrast, showed a rounded heterogeneous lesion, measuring 3 cm in diameter, in the left paraglottic space. The lesion was resected by laryngofissure and histopathological examination led to a diagnosis of schwannoma. There was partial improvement of dysphonia after surgery; no recurrence of the lesion was seen on the post-surgical, 1-year follow up. CONCLUSION: Laryngeal schwannomas, although uncommon, can cause dysphonia, vocal fold fixation and even airway obstruction, depending on the size and location of the lesion. A high index of clinical suspicion is needed to enable early diagnosis, which allows the prompt institution of appropriate treatment with the minimization of morbidity. Imaging studies are important for determining the size and extent of the tumor, and complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice.
