경부의 거대한 단발성 신경섬유종 1례

A neurofibroma is a tumor of the nerve sheath. The neurofibroma originates from the Schwann cells, which produce the perineural connective tissue. Solitary neurofibromas that are limited to the head and neck area are rare. It is a well-defined, benign, slowly growing tumor, attached to the nerve of origin, which is generally asymptomatic.

A 23-year-old woman, with a 5-year history of neck masses, presented at the outpatient department. There were swallowing difficulty and intermittent dyspnea. On radiologic studies, huge mass occupying right side of the neck from the low-oropharynx to the superior mediastinum, extended into the contralateral side of the neck through the prevertebral space with displacement of the common carotid and vertebral artery and upper esophagus. Multiple surgical resection of the neck masses was performed through a low neck incision. Two relatively well circumscribed multinodular rubbery huge masses measuring 20x13x9 cm and 14x14x11 cm were revealed. Cut surface showed pinkish white dense collagenous tissue with yellowish myxoid areas. There was no evidence of recurrence for 9-year follow-ups.