SCHWANNOMA ARISING FROM THE INTERMEDIATE NERVE AND MANIFESTING AS HEMIFACIAL SPASM - CASE-REPORT

This 35-year-old man presented with left facial spasm that had persist ed for 10 months. Microvascular decompression was performed to relieve the symptom. No responsible vessel could be identified during surgery , but a small mass seeming to arise from the intermediate nerve and co mpressing the seventh cranial nerve was removed. The histological diag nosis was Antoni-B type schwannoma. This unique case of schwannoma ari sing from the intermediate nerve was recognized by means of an operati ve microscope, and supports the idea that portions of the seventh nerv e schwannoma originate from the components of the intermediate nerve.