Prolonged cricopharyngeal muscle spasm after resection of the cervical vagus nerve in a 15-year-old

Abstract

Cervical vagal schwannomas are rare pediatric head and neck neoplasms that present a surgical challenge if the nerve is intimately involved with the mass. In some instances, resection of the vagus nerve with the mass is required. This will usually result in vocal cord paralysis and uncommonly dysphagia due to unilateral cricopharyngeal spasm. We present a case in which these two complications resulted in significant dysphagia and aspiration, which improved with expectant management.