Benign schwannoma

Title

Other Names:

Neurilemoma; Neurilemmoma; Neurolemmoma; Neurilemoma; Neurilemmoma; Neurolemmoma; Peripheral fibroblastoma See More

Summary Summary

Schwannomas are tumors of the tissue that covers the nerves (nerve sheath). These tumors develop from a type of cell called a Schwann cell, which gives these tumors their name. They are usually benign (not cancerous).^[1] Although schwannomas can arise from any nerve in the body, the most common areas include the nerves of the head and neck and those involved with moving the arms and legs.^[2] Common symptoms include a slow-growing mass and Tinel's sign (an electric-like shock when the affected area is touched). The cause of schwannomas is unknown, but they sometimes occur in people with certain disorders including some types of neurofibromatosis.^[2] Benign schwannomas are typically treated with surgery.^[1]

Last updated: 3/9/2015

Symptoms Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of schwannomas include a slow-growing mass and Tinel shock (electric-like shock when affected area is touched). Some people may experience numbness or other neurological symptoms depending on the size and location of the tumor.^[3]^[2]

Last updated: 11/11/2014

Cause Cause

The cause of schwannomas is unknown. They sometimes occur in people with certain disorders including some types of neurofibromatosis (neurofibromatosis type 2 and schwannomatosis). In these cases, affected people have multiple tumors that are due to changes (mutations) in a gene.^[1]^[3] For example, neurofibromatosis type 2 is caused by mutations in the NF2 gene and schwannomatosis is caused by mutations in the SMARCB1 gene and the LZTR1 gene.^[4]^[5]

Last updated: 11/12/2014

Inheritance Inheritance

Most schwannomas are not inherited. The vast majority of schwannomas occur by chance (sporadically) and as a single tumor. In these cases, people typically do not have affected family members.^[6]

Around 5-10% of people develop multiple schwannomas.^[7]^[6] In these cases, the schwannomas may be due to an inherited condition which can be passed from parent to child. For example, neurofibromatosis type 2 and schwannomatosis are two conditions known to cause multiple schwannomas. Both of these conditions are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.^[5]^[4] This means that to be affected, a person only needs a change (mutation) in one copy of the responsible gene in each cell. In some cases, an affected person inherits the mutation from an affected parent. Other cases may result from new (de novo) mutations in the gene. These cases occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family. A person with neurofibromatosis type 2 or schwannomatosis has a 50% chance with each pregnancy of passing along the altered gene to his or her child.

Last updated: 3/9/2015

Diagnosis Diagnosis

Genetic testing is not available for many individuals with schwannomas since most of these tumors occur sporadically (by chance) and are not caused by a genetic mutation.

However, genetic testing is an option for people with an inherited condition that predisposes to schwannomas such as certain types of neurofibromatosis (neurofibromatosis type 2 and schwannomatosis). Carrier testing for at-risk relatives and prenatal testing are possible if the disease-causing mutation in the family is known.^[8]^[4]

The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) is a centralized online resource for information about genetic tests. It provides a list of laboratories performing genetic testing for neurofibromatosis type 2 and schwannomatosis. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Last updated: 11/12/2014

In addition to a complete physical exam and medical history, the following tests may be necessary to diagnose a schwannoma: x-ray, ultrasound, and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Some people may also need a biopsy of the tumor to confirm the diagnosis.^[2]^[3]

Last updated: 11/12/2014

Treatment Treatment

The best treatment options for schwannoma depends on several factors, including the size and location of the tumor; whether the tumor is benign or malignant (cancerous); and the age and overall health of the affected person. For example, standard treatment for benign schwannomas is surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. People with malignant schwannomas may also be treated with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy in addition to surgery.^[2]^[1]^[3] Because there is a chance that a schwannoma may return following surgery or treatment, regular follow-up with physical examinations and imaging should be discussed with a physician.

Last updated: 3/9/2015

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Research Research

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are studying or have studied Benign schwannoma. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

Organizations Organizations

Nonprofit support and advocacy groups bring together patients, families, medical professionals, and researchers. These groups often raise awareness, provide support, and develop patient-centered information. Many are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct people to research, resources, and services. Many groups also have experts who serve as medical advisors. Visit their website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Providing General Support

American Cancer Society
250 Williams Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30329
Toll-free: 800-227-2345
Website: http://www.cancer.org

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Learn More Learn More

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

The American Brain Tumor Association has an information page on Benign schwannoma. Click on the link to view this information page.

In-Depth Information

Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Benign schwannoma. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

News & Events News & Events

News

GARD Information Navigator
May 10, 2016

Related Diseases Related Diseases

The following diseases are related to Benign schwannoma. If you have a question about any of these diseases, you can contact GARD.

Benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor

GARD Answers GARD Answers

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

I had a schwannoma tumor removed from my stomach. It was a cellular type of schwannoma, and it was benign. What is the difference between this type of schwannoma and other types? Will it grow back? Should I be tested for this condition for the rest of my life? See answer
Is it possible to have a schwannoma again after surgery? See answer
I had a schwannoma removed from my arm. I now have numbness in the area and tingling in my finger. Will these sensations be permanent? And could a previous trauma cause a schwannoma? See answer
Can a schwanomma cause vertigo if it is near an ear? See answer
I have a fairly large schwannoma/myxoma tumor in my right arm in the tricept. I would like to know if I'm likely to have other such tumors in other parts of my body. See answer

Have a question? Contact a GARD Information Specialist.

References References

Schwannoma. Cancer Research UK. July 1, 2013; http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/what-is-schwannoma.
Schwannoma (Neurilemoma). Children's Hospital Boston. 2011; http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1069/mainpageS1069P0.html. Accessed 7/4/2011.
Ian D Dickey, MD, FRCSC. Neurilemmoma. Medscape. May 30, 2012; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1256405-overview#a0112. Accessed 11/11/2014.
Kaleb Yohay, MD, Amanda Bergner, MS, CGC. Schwannomatosis. UpToDate. March 2014;
Neurofibromatosis type 2. Genetic Home Reference. December 2013; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/neurofibromatosis-type-2. Accessed 11/12/2014.
Gonzalvo A, Fowler A, Cook RJ, Little NS, Wheeler H, McDonald KL, Biggs MT. Schwannomatosis, sporadic schwannomatosis, and familial schwannomatosis: a surgical series with long-term follow-up. Clinical article.. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2011; 113(3):752-765. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20932094. Accessed 7/22/2014.
Antinheimo J, Sankila R, Carpen O, Pukkala E, Sainio M, Jaaskelainen J. Population-based analysis of sporadic and type 2 neurofibromatosis-associated meningiomas and schwannomas. Neurology. 2000; 54(1):71-76. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10636128. Accessed 7/22/2014.
D Gareth Evans. Neurofibromatosis 2. GeneReviews. August 18, 2011; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1201/. Accessed 2/28/2014.