This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Minowa, K Articles by Nakamura, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Minowa, K Articles by Nakamura, M

CT and MRI findings of intraosseous schwannoma of the mandible: a case report

¹ Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; ² Oral Diagnosis and Medicine, Department of Oral Pathobiological Science, Hokkaido University School of Dentistry, Sapporo, Japan; ³ Geriatric Stomatology, Department of Oral Health Science, Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Sapporo, Japan; ⁴ Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral Pathobiological Science, Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

*Correspondence to: Kazuyuki Minowa, Department of Radiology, Hokkaido University School of Dentistry, Kita 13 Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8586, Japan; Email: kminowa{at}den.hokudai.ac.jp

Received 19 September 2005; revised 7 February 2006; accepted 2 March 2006

We report the radiographical findings of a rare case of intraosseous schwannoma of the mandible. The tumour that presented as a unilocular, well-defined, radiolucent lesion on plain radiography was located in the molar region. On CT, the tumour was a well-demarcated mass with no periosteal reaction and no destruction of the bone cortex. Destructive changes in the cortical wall of the mandibular canal by the tumour were observed on CT, but no evidence of dilatation and shift in the inferior mandibular canal was seen. MR imaging revealed that the mandibular canal was encased by the tumour as a solid mass without cystic parts. The signal intensity of the tumour was non-specific on MRI. Characteristics of intraosseous schwannoma in the mandible are the encasement of the canal by a well-demarcated tumour without periosteal reaction and the destruction of mandibular bone cortex. The destructive change of the inferior mandibular canal can be observed on CT and MRI. However, a biopsy is necessary to make the final diagnosis because of the non-specificity of the findings.

Keywords: intraosseous schwannoma; mandible; computed tomography (CT); MRI