Atypical Presentation and Postoperative Management of Vagal Nerve Tumors.

Authors

• Samuel R Shing
• Maria Armache
• Pablo Llerena
• Mackenzie O'Connor
• Kira Murphy
• Joseph M Curry
• Adam J Luginbuhl

Publication/Presentation Date

12-1-2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Tumors involving the vagus nerve are often clinically silent. We offer a case series with different clinical presentations and distinctive post-surgical sequelae that highlight some of the challenges associated with managing cervical vagal nerve tumors.

METHODS: Single-institution, retrospective review of patients with tumors involving the vagus nerve. We describe clinical presentations and postoperative sequelae of five patients who underwent surgical management of vagal nerve pathology with atypical presentation or subsequent clinical course.

RESULTS: Here, we present five patients treated at our institution for vagal tumors. In four of the five patients, the presenting symptoms resolved after surgery. Two patients presented with intractable neurogenic cough, and another two presented with autonomic symptoms, one with syncope/palpitations and the other with intractable sweating. The final patient presented with a rapidly enlarging vagal paraganglioma and developed intractable cough after resection. We present two patients with novel approach to vagal paragangliomas that underwent ligation of feeding blood supply without removing the tumor, resulting in resolution of an intractable cough in one patient and resolution of severe nighttime sweating in the other.

CONCLUSION: Management of tumors associated with the cervical vagus nerve that present with symptoms or rapid growth poses a clinical dilemma. Consideration of the tumor origin with either enucleation of schwannomas or ligation of feeding vessels may preserve function while addressing the presenting symptoms.

Volume

133

Issue

12

First Page

1037

Last Page

1041

ISSN

1943-572X

Published In/Presented At

Shing, S. R., Armache, M., Llerena, P., O'Connor, M., Murphy, K., Curry, J. M., & Luginbuhl, A. J. (2024). Atypical Presentation and Postoperative Management of Vagal Nerve Tumors. The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology, 133(12), 1037–1041. https://doi.org/10.1177/00034894241288416

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

39369307

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article