Floor of Mouth and Submandibular Schwannomas: Review of Literature and a Case Report

Background: Schwannomas are benign neoplasms composed of Schwann cells.They are rarely found in the floor of the mouth (FOM) or the submandibular region.Case description: Our patient presented with a painless swelling in the submandibular region.Fine needle cytology showing normal salivary gland tissue.He underwent transcervical excision in view of suspicious radiological findings.The lesion was found attached to the lingual nerve during surgery, and on histology, it was confirmed as a schwannoma.Review result: After a thorough search of the literature on schwannomas in the submandibular region and/or the FOM, published since 1990, a total of 65 cases were included in the review.The nerve of origin did not always determine the site of presentation.The hypoglossal nerve was the most involved.Schwannomas may arise from any point along the course of the nerve, becoming less common toward the periphery.They are often difficult to diagnose, and complete tumor removal is the treatment of choice.Conclusion: Schwannomas arising in the FOM and submandibular space may originate from the hypoglossal, lingual, parasympathetic nerves or even from glandular tissue.They are slow-growing tumors and malignant transformation is extremely rare, but due to the lack of a preoperative diagnosis, surgery is the diagnostic and treatment modality of choice.