Schwannoma of the Great Auricular Nerve: A Rare Entity

Schwannoma of the great auricular nerve is an extremely rare benign tumor. We report the case of a 26-year-old woman who developed a slow-growing right lateral neck mass four years ago. Ultrasound scan and computed tomography were performed, and the mass was diagnosed as a cyst. Complete surgical removal was performed, and the histological report was consistent with a schwannoma. Postoperatively, the patient developed numbness of the ipsilateral auricle. Follow-up showed no recurrence, and the numbness improved. Although rare, schwannomas should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of tumors located in the course of the nerves of the neck, and surgical treatment should be discussed with the patient.