A rare case of facial nerve schwannoma masked by a concomitant temporomandibular disorder pain

Facial nerve schwannoma (FNS) is an uncommon benign tumor that arises from the Schwann cells of the facial nerve (FN). Although rare, this is the most frequent type of FN tumor, potentially affecting any segment of the nerve. Nevertheless, a higher incidence of intracranial lesions and a predilection for the geniculate ganglion has been reported. Hearing loss, facial paresis and tinnitus are the most frequent symptoms. Conversely, pain, is not among the most prominent complaints and when present, it can be misdiagnosed as an orofacial pain of other source, including pain due to a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). In this paper, we describe a rare case of a patient presenting a FNS located in the intratemporal part and geniculate ganglion of the FN, which was initially masked by the symptoms of a coexistent TMD. It highlights the importance of considering intracranial tumors in the differential diagnosis of orofacial pains. Keywords: Facial nerve schwannoma, Intracranial tumors, Facial paralysis, Orofacial pain, Temporomandibular disorder