C5 nerve sheath tumor

Case contributed by Ian Bickle
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Left-sided 2-3 cm mildly tender poorly mobile neck swelling.

Patient Data

Age: 40 years
Gender: Female
ultrasound

Well devoid ovoid low attenuation mass in the left side of the neck.

mri

3.5 cm left C5 benign appearing nerve sheath tumor.  This has increased from 3 cm on the prior study.

No other abnormality.

 

Case Discussion

C5 nerve sheath tumor.  This is most likely a schwannoma or neurofibroma.  Radiologically it is often not possible to distinguish the subtype of peripheral nerve sheath tumor.

This changed only minimally over 3 years of interval imaging.

When small, they may be mistaken for lymph nodes on ultrasound.

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