Schwannoma of the chorda tympani nerve

We report a case of schwannoma of the chorda tympani. This is a very rare b enign tumour and only five other cases have been found in the literature. T his is the first case to mimic a cholesteatoma presenting as a pearly tumou r in the postero-superior segment of the drum with aural discharge and cond uctive deafness. Diagnosis is usually by biopsy and treatment is surgical w ith preservation of facial and auditory function. A summary of the other pr esentations of this tumour together with a review of the histopathology of the disease is presented.