Schwannoma Presenting as an Asymptomatic Postauricular Mass

Juyun Hwang; David Shimunov; Huseyin Isildak

doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000012918

Schwannoma Presenting as an Asymptomatic Postauricular Mass

J Craniofac Surg. 2026 May 12. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000012918. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Juyun Hwang¹, David Shimunov², Huseyin Isildak²

Affiliations

¹ Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University.
² Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

PMID: 42117576
DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000012918

Abstract

Objective: To report a rare case of schwannoma presenting as a right postauricular mass without symptoms.

Patients: An adult female patient presented with a 5-year history of right postauricular mass, sensorineural hearing loss, and occasional headache.

Intervention: Excision of right postauricular/mastoid mass.

Results: A female patient with sensorineural hearing loss and hearing aids presented with a 5-year history of a nontender, right postauricular mass. Observation was pursued for a year. Sensorineural hearing loss was stable, but the patient experienced occasional headaches, a fullness sensation in the ears, increasing tenderness, and difficulty using the right hearing aid. Excision of the mass was performed, and a 6×7 mm cystic lesion was removed. S100 immunostaining of the excision confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma.

Conclusions: A patient was diagnosed with a schwannoma of the great auricular nerve postoperatively through immunostaining. Clinicians should consider schwannomas when evaluating postauricular masses to provide more accurate prognostic discussions.

Keywords: Case report; S-100 immunohistochemistry; great auricular nerve; head and neck peripheral nerve tumors; postauricular schwannoma.