A surprising cause of unilateral nasal obstruction and epistaxis: Nasal septal schwannoma

Abstract

Schwannomas of the head and neck are the most common form of benign nerve sheath tumours, most commonly arising in the form of vestibular schwannomas. Schwannoma of the nasal cavity is an uncommon presentation of this pathology and specifically Schwannoma of the nasal septum is a rare presentation of this well understood disease process. We present the case of a 31-year-old Eastern European male who presented with unilateral nasal obstruction, congestion and epistaxis of 3 months duration. After imaging and biopsy, the diagnosis of nasal septal schwannoma was made on histological examination. This diagnosis of a unilateral nasal mass in a young man provides an opportunity to discuss the varied presentations of schwannoma as well as to examine to possible causes of nasal and septal masses in this demographic.