“Pediatric Lingual Schwannoma: A Rare Case with a Clear Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach”

Background: Lingual schwannomas are rare benign nerve sheath tumours within the oral cavity; paediatric presentations are uncommon and may delay recognition. Case: A healthy 14-year-old girl presented with a long-standing, bilobulated, firm (~2 cm) nodule on the right lateral tongue, mildly tender and functionally impacting feeding, with accelerated growth in recent months and no cervical lymphadenopathy. Contrast-enhanced cervicofacial CT showed a well-circumscribed, oblong enhancing lesion (~18 × 8 mm) without deep extension or suspicious nodes, consistent with localized nodular disease. Complete transoral excision was performed. Histopathology confirmed schwannoma; immunohistochemistry showed diffuse S100 and CD34 positivity, EMA negativity, and preserved nuclear INI1, supporting schwannoma and helping exclude perineurioma or epithelioid MPNST. Outcome: Uneventful recovery; no early recurrence on follow-up. Conclusion: In adolescents with persistent tongue masses, schwannoma should be considered. Imaging supports surgical planning, while the definitive diagnosis is histopathological; complete excision is typically curative with excellent functional outcomes.