Solitary Neurofibroma of the Maxillary Sinus: a Rare Case Report

Neurofibroma is a benign slow growing tumour of the peripheral nerve sheath; frequently associated with neurofibromatosis type I. Solitary neurofibroma of maxillary sinus is exceedingly rare tumour, with only seven cases described in the literature. We report a case of a 14-year-old male patient presented in our ENT department with a painless swelling of the left cheek for the last six months. The diagnosis was a solitary neurofibroma of the maxillary sinus and we try to describe the clinical, histopathological and radiological characteristics of this tumour. CT scan showed a heterogeneous expansive lesion in the left maxillary sinus destroying the lateral, medial, anterior and posterior walls with infiltration of the fosse infratemporalis. A maxillary resection was performed to excise the tumour. Histological examination of the specimen showed a neurofibroma. No sign of recurrence was noted after 6 months of follow-up. Despite the rareness and the difficulty diagnosing this disease, otolaryngologists should keep this diagnosis in mind within the range of tumours of the paranasal sinuses.