An overview on manifestation and management of glossopharyngeal schwannoma: a systematic review.

Abstract

Objectives: Glossopharyngeal schwannoma is a rare benign tumor of myelin-producing Schwann cells. Kaye and Pellet classified lower cranial nerves' (CN) schwannomas into 4 different categories, according to size, location, and tumoral extension. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of epidemiology, clinical manifestation, diagnostic features, therapeutic management, and outcomes of patients affected by IX CN schwannoma.

Methods: A systematic literature review has been performed following the PRISMA 2020 checklist statement. A computerized search has been carried on by an extensive set of queries on the Embase/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences databases, relating to papers published from 1975 to 2024.

Results: Of the 77 patients affected by glossopharyngeal schwannoma reviewed in 37 studies, 52% were females and 48% were males. The mean age of patients was 41 years. Most of the reported lesions were intra-cranial type A tumors (69%), according to the high prevalence of ear disturbances (77%) and cerebellar signs (23%). The full removal of the tumor was described in 96% of cases with only 4 cases of tumoral recurrences.

Conclusion: Current evidence suggests overall favorable oncological outcomes and a low rate of recurrence. Surgery is considered the gold standard treatment for glossopharyngeal schwannomas and it is generally indicated when the tumor causes significant neurological symptoms, mass effect, or progressive growth. Nonetheless, radiosurgery is not commonly used.