Rare isolated trigeminal nerve sarcoidosis mimicking schwannoma

Clin Imaging. 2015 Jan-Feb;39(1):133-5. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2014.08.012. Epub 2014 Oct 16.

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology involving multiple organ systems. Isolated neurosarcoidosis is exceedingly rare. This case report presents isolated trigeminal nerve sarcoidosis mimicking schwannoma in a patient presenting with symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. Neuroimaging revealed a mass associated with trigeminal nerve which prospectively thought to represent schwannoma. However, surgical pathology was consistent with sarcoidosis. Given great overlap in imaging characteristic of tumors in the Meckel's cave intraoperative frozen section biopsy may be considered to rule out an inflammatory lesion.

Keywords: Neuroimaging; Neurosarcoidosis; Pathology; Schwannoma; Trigeminal neuralgia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / pathology*
  • Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurilemmoma / pathology*
  • Sarcoidosis / complications
  • Sarcoidosis / pathology*
  • Trigeminal Nerve / pathology*
  • Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / complications
  • Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / pathology*
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / etiology
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / pathology*

Supplementary concepts

  • Neurosarcoidosis