Neurilemmoma of the Tongue.

A girl aged 8 attended as an out patient with a swelling of the right side of the tongue of one year's duration. It was first noticed by the mother when the child had a sore throat. It had gradually increased in size since that time. The patient had experienced no dysphasia or dysphagia. On examination a firm nodular yellowish-white swelling measuring approximately 2-5 x 2-0 cm. was seen on the lateral border of the right side of the posterior third of the tongue. Intact mucous membrane covered its surface (Fig. 1). In view of its position, radio-iodine uptake studies were done: these showed a normal uptake over the thyroid gland, but no special uptake over the swelling on the tongue. A provisional diagnosis of ectopic salivary tumour was made. At operation under general anaesthesia, a wellencapsulated tumour was easily freed from the surrounding tissues and the area thus created closed with two mattress sutures of braided silk.