Description

Peripheral nerve tumors are tumors that form in or near the nerves. The nerves are strands of tissue that transmit signals from the brain to the rest of the body. The peripheral nerves control the muscles that allow you to walk, blink, swallow, pick up things and doing other activities.

Tumors of peripheral nerves can occur in any part of the body. Most of them are benign, meaning not cancerous. But they can also cause pain, nerve damage and loss of function in the affected area.

Treatment usually involves surgery to remove the tumor. When the tumor cannot be removed without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue and nerves, other treatments may be considered.

There are several types of peripheral nerve tumors. Intraneural tumors to grow on nerves. Extraneural tumors of the press against the nerves.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a peripheral nerve tumors develop from the direct effects on the nerve or from the tumor pressing on nearby nerves, blood vessels or tissues. As the tumor grows, it may be more likely to cause symptoms, although the size of the tumor does not always determine the effects.

The symptoms of peripheral nerve tumors vary depending on where the tumors are found and affected tissues. They include:

  • Swelling or a lump under the skin.
  • Pain, tingling or numbness.
  • Weakness or loss of function in the affected area.
  • Dizziness or loss of balance.

When to see a doctor

Consult your health care provider if you have any of the symptoms listed above, especially if you have a tumor that grows quickly.

Causes

It is not clear why the majority of the tumors of the peripheral nerves develop. Some are linked to the well-known hereditary syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2), and schwannomatosis. Others may be caused by changes in a gene.

Risk factors

Peripheral nerve tumors are more common in people who have:

  • Neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2), and schwannomatosis. In these disorders, tumors develop in or near the nerves throughout the body. Often there are multiple tumors. That can lead to a variety of symptoms, depending on where they are in the body. These tumors are usually not cancerous.
  • A history of radiation treatment. A person who was exposed to radiation are at greater risk of developing tumors of peripheral nerves years later.

Complications

Tumors of peripheral nerves can exert pressure against the nerves. This can lead to complications. Some may be permanent:

  • Numbness and weakness in the affected area.
  • The loss of function in the affected area.
  • Problems with balance.
  • Pain.

Diagnosis

To diagnose a tumor of the peripheral nerve, your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. You can undergo a general physical exam and a neurological exam. Several tests can help identify the cause of your symptoms.

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This analysis uses a magnet and radio waves to produce a detailed 3D view of the nerves and tissues.
  • The computed tomography (CT). A CT scanner rotates around the body to take a series of images. A computer uses the image for a detailed view of the peripheral nerves of the tumor. A ct scan can help your provider to determine how the tumor may be affecting.
  • Electromyogram (EMG). For this test, small needles are placed in the muscles. An instrument that records the electrical activity in the muscle as you move.
  • The nerve conduction study. This test is often done with an EMG . It measures the speed with which nerves transmit electrical signals to the muscles.
  • Biopsy of the Tumor. If you have a nerve tumor, a biopsy may be needed. A small sample of cells from the tumor were extracted and analyzed. Depending on the size of the tumor and the location, you may need a medication that numbs an area of the body, called local anesthesia, or the medicine that puts you to sleep, so-called general anesthesia, during the biopsy. Sometimes a biopsy is the only way to determine if a tumor is cancerous.
  • In the nerve biopsy. A biopsy of the nerve may be needed in people who have certain conditions, such as progressive peripheral neuropathy and enlargement of the nerves that mimic tumors of the nerve.

Peripheral nerve tumors are not common. It is important to find a provider who is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of the same. If necessary, get a second opinion.

Treatment

The treatment of a tumor of the peripheral nerve depends on the type of tumor, so that the nerves and other tissues affected, and the symptoms. Treatment options may include:

Monitoring

Watching and waiting to see if the tumor grows, it may be an option if it is in a place that makes removal difficult. Or it may be an option if the tumor is small, slow-growing, and cause few or no symptoms. You're going to have regular check-ups and can have magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography or ultrasound done every 6 to 12 months to see if the tumor is growing. If repeat scans show that the tumor is stable, so can be monitored every few years.

Surgery

Some tumors of peripheral nerves are removed with surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove the entire tumor without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue and nerves. When this is not possible, surgeons remove as much of the tumor as possible.

New methods and tools that allow surgeons to reach tumors that are difficult to access. High-power microscopes used in microsurgery to make it easier to tell the difference between a tumor and the healthy tissue. And the function of the nerves may be monitored during the surgery, which helps to preserve the healthy tissue.

Risks of surgery include nerve damage and disability. These risks are often based on the size of the tumor, where it is located and the approach used for the surgery. Some tumors also grow back.

Stereotactic radiosurgery

Stereotactic radiosurgery is used for the treatment of some tumors of peripheral nerves in or around the brain. The radiation is directed precisely to a tumor without making an incision. A type of this type of surgery is called radiosurgery with Gamma knife.

The risks of radiosurgery include weakness or numbness in the treated area. Or the tumor may continue to grow. Very rarely, radiation can cause cancer in the area to treat in the future.

The treatment of cancer

Cancerous tumors are treated with standard anti-cancer therapies. These include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The early diagnosis and treatment are the most important factors for a good outcome. The tumors may recur after treatment.

Rehabilitation

After the surgery, you may need physical rehabilitation. Your doctor may use a brace or a splint to keep the arm or leg in a position that helps it to heal. Physical therapists and occupational therapists can help you regain function and mobility lost due to nerve damage or amputation of the limb.

Coping and support

It can be stressful to deal with the possibility of a tumor of the peripheral nerve complications. The choice of which treatment would be best for you, you can also be a difficult decision. These suggestions can help:

  • Learn as much as you can about tumors of peripheral nerves. The more you know, the better prepared you'll be to make good decisions about the treatment. In addition to talking with your health care provider, you may want to talk with a counselor or a social worker. Or you may find it helpful to talk with other people who have had an illness like yours. Ask about their experiences during and after treatment.
  • Maintain a strong support system. Family and friends can be a source of support. You can find the interest and understanding of other people with an illness like yours, especially comforting. Your health care provider or a social worker may be able to put you in touch with a support group.

Preparing for your appointment

If your primary care provider thinks that you have a tumor of the peripheral nerve, you will be referred to a specialist. Specialists include doctors who are expert in disorders of the nervous system, called neurologists and doctors trained in brain and nervous system surgery, call of neurosurgeons.

What you can do

Before the appointment, you might want to prepare a list of answers to the following questions:

  • When did you first notice this problem?
  • Has gotten worse with time?
  • Your parents or siblings had similar symptoms?
  • Do you have any other medical problems?
  • What medications or supplements you take?
  • What surgeries have you had?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask some of the following questions:

  • Do you have pain? Where is it?
  • Do you have any weakness, numbness or tingling?
  • The symptoms been constant or come and go?
  • What treatments have been tried for these problems?
Symptoms and treatment of tumors of Peripheral nerves