Neurilemmoma of the Tongue

Abstract

The authors report a case of uncommon neurilemmoma on the tip of the tongue. A 23-year-old Korean man presented with a mass on the tip of the tongue, which was noted first 3 years before, when it was a small nodule. The mass had been growing slowly. Physical examination revealed a firm, not-tender, oval, elevated, protruded, red mass on the right side tip of the tongue. It measured 2 x 2 cm. The lesion was well capsulated and separated easily. A complete excision was done, and the wound was closed primarily. Histopathologic examination revealed an encapsulated spindle cell tumor, of which two types of the tissue were clear. A small and slow-growing mass in the tongue with positive history of tongue bite is first suggestive of neurilemmoma, as well as neurofibroma, lingual cyst, and minor salivary gland tumor.