A rare cause of cervical swelling: Solitary plexiform neurofibroma

Plexiform cervical neurofibromas are benign neoplasm, extremely rare, difficult to diagnose and to manage. Only some cases have been reported in the literature. We report the case of a 60-year-old man admitted for a lateral neck mass, for which the surgical indication was the increase in volume of this mass, as well as the aesthetical impairment, the surgical exploration found the tumor attached to the cervical plexus. The excision of the mass was performed without damaging nerve. The pathological study was in favor of a plexiform neurofibroma. Even though Plexiform cervical neurofibroma are extremely rare, and their diagnosis are not often primary evoked in front of any growing mass of this region, the surgeon must keep in mind the existence of these neoplasms as a differential diagnosis of a neck tumor. Surgery remains the gold standard in the treatment of these locally invasive tumors. It is essential that the surgeon keep in mind the possibility of these tumors as a differential diagnosis of a neck tumor. •Plexiform cervical neurofibromas are benign neoplasm, extremely rare.•Difficult to diagnose and to manage.•Their symptomatology is variable and depends on their topography.•The clinical aspect is not specific, and the diagnosis is confirmed after a biopsy with anatomopathological examination.•Surgery remains the gold standard in the treatment of these locally invasive tumors.