- Home
- Browse by Disease
- Schwannoma
Schwannoma
- Other Names:
Benign schwannoma; Neurilemmoma; Neurilemoma; Neurolemmoma; Peripheral fibroblastomaBenign schwannoma; Neurilemmoma; Neurilemoma; Neurolemmoma; Peripheral fibroblastoma
Read More
Read Less
Thank you for visiting the GARD website.
Learn more about site improvements that will be live by Spring 2023.
We would like to hear your feedback as we continue to refine this new version of the GARD website.
Thank you for visiting the GARD website.
Learn more about site improvements that will be live by Spring 2023.
We would like to hear your feedback as we continue to refine this new version of the GARD website.
Disease at a Glance
Summary
A Schwannoma is a tumor of the peripheral nervous system or nerve root. A Schwannoma develops from cells called Schwann cells, a type of cell that wraps itself around peripheral nerves and provides protection and support. Schwannomas are almost always benign (not cancerous), but rarely, may become cancerous (a malignant Schwannoma). Symptoms of a Schwannoma may be vague and will vary depending on its location and size, but may include a lump or bump that can be seen or felt, pain, muscle weakness, tingling, numbness, hearing problems, and/or facial paralysis. Sometimes Schwannomas do not cause any symptoms. Schwannomas usually develop in otherwise healthy people for unknown reasons. In some cases, a Schwannoma is caused by a genetic disorder such as neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2), Schwannomatosis, or Carney complex. People with these genetic disorders usually have more than one Schwannoma. Schwannomas may be diagnosed using imaging studies. A biopsy may confirm the diagnosis.
Resource(s) for Medical Professionals and Scientists on This Disease:
This section is currently in development.
About Schwannoma
Many rare diseases have limited information. Currently GARD aims to provide the following information for this disease:
- Population Estimate:Fewer than 50,000 people in the U.S. have this disease.
- Symptoms:May start to appear as an Adult and as an Older Adult.
- Cause:This condition is caused by uncontrolled cell growth and division that damages tissue.
- Organizations:GARD is not currently aware of organizations specific to this condition.
- Categories:Cancer
Neurological Disease
When Do Symptoms of Schwannoma Begin?
Symptoms of this disease may start to appear as an Adult and as an Older Adult.
The age symptoms may begin to appear differs between diseases. Symptoms may begin in a single age range, or during several age ranges. The symptoms from some diseases may begin at any age. Knowing when symptoms began to appear can help medical providers find the correct diagnosis.
The age symptoms may begin to appear differs between diseases. Symptoms may begin in a single age range, or during several age ranges. The symptoms from some diseases may begin at any age. Knowing when symptoms began to appear can help medical providers find the correct diagnosis.
Prenatal
Before Birth
Newborn
Birth-4 weeks
Infant
1-23 months
Child
2-11 years
Adolescent
12-18 years
Adult Selected
19-65 years
Older Adult Selected
65+ years
Symptoms may start to appear as an Adult and as an Older Adult.
Symptoms
The number and severity of symptoms experienced may differ among people with this disease. Your experience may be different from others, and you should consult your primary care provider for more information.
This list is not all-inclusive, but the following symptoms have been linked to this disease:
This list is not all-inclusive, but the following symptoms have been linked to this disease:
Nervous System Nervous System
25 Symptoms
Tile View
List View
Nervous System
The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Common symptoms of problems in the nervous system include trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing, or learning. Problems with memory, senses, or mood may also occur. Nervous system diseases are usually diagnosed and treated by neurologists.
25 Symptoms
Causes
This section is currently in development.
Advocacy and Support Groups
How Can Patient Organizations Help?
Patient organizations can help patients and families connect. They build public awareness of the disease and are a driving force behind research to improve patients' lives. They may offer online and in-person resources to help people live well with their disease. Many collaborate with medical experts and researchers.
Services of patient organizations differ, but may include:
- Ways to connect to others and share personal stories
- Easy-to-read information
- Up-to-date treatment and research information
- Patient registries
- Lists of specialists or specialty centers
- Financial aid and travel resources
Please note: GARD provides organizations for informational purposes only and not as an endorsement of their services. Please contact an organization directly if you have questions about the information or resources it provides.
Patient Organizations
4 Organizations
Organization Name
Who They Serve
Helpful Links
Country
Participating in Clinical Studies
Clinical studies are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances, including rare diseases. Participating in research helps researchers ultimately uncover better ways to treat, prevent, diagnose, and understand human diseases.
What Are Clinical Studies?
Clinical studies are medical research involving people as participants. There are two main types of clinical studies:
- Clinical trials determine if a new test or treatment for a disease is effective and safe by comparing groups receiving different tests/treatments.
- Observational studies involve recording changes over time among a specific group of people in their natural settings.
Why Participate in Clinical Studies?
People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Participants with a disease may participate to help others, but also to possibly receive the newest treatment and additional care from clinical study staff. Healthy volunteers may also participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward.
How Do You Find the Right Clinical Study?
To find the right clinical study we recommend you:
- Use ClincalTrials.gov button below to search for studies by disease, terms, or country.
- Consult doctors, other trusted medical professionals, and patient organizations.
- Enroll in databases to allow researchers from participating institutions to find you.
What if There Are No Available Clinical Studies?
ResearchMatch helps connect people interested in research studies with researchers from top medical centers across the United States. Anyone from the U.S. can register with this free program funded by NIH. Researchers from participating institutions use the database to search for and invite patients or healthy volunteers who meet their study criteria to participate.
What Are Clinical Studies?
Clinical studies are medical research involving people as participants. There are two main types of clinical studies:
- Clinical trials determine if a new test or treatment for a disease is effective and safe by comparing groups receiving different tests/treatments.
- Observational studies involve recording changes over time among a specific group of people in their natural settings.
Why Participate in Clinical Studies?
People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Participants with a disease may participate to help others, but also to possibly receive the newest treatment and additional care from clinical study staff. Healthy volunteers may also participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward.
How Do You Find the Right Clinical Study?
To find the right clinical study we recommend you:
- Use ClincalTrials.gov button below to search for studies by disease, terms, or country.
- Consult doctors, other trusted medical professionals, and patient organizations.
- Enroll in databases to allow researchers from participating institutions to find you.
What if There Are No Available Clinical Studies?
ResearchMatch helps connect people interested in research studies with researchers from top medical centers across the United States. Anyone from the U.S. can register with this free program funded by NIH. Researchers from participating institutions use the database to search for and invite patients or healthy volunteers who meet their study criteria to participate.
ClinicalTrials.gov, an affiliate of NIH, provides current information on clinical research studies in the United States and abroad. Talk to a trusted doctor before choosing to participate in any clinical study. We recommend checking this site often and searching for studies with related terms/synonyms to improve results.
GARDGenetic and Rare Diseases
Information Center
Information Center
Please contact GARD if you need help finding additional information or resources on rare diseases, including clinical studies. Our Information Specialists are available to you by phone or by filling out our contact form. Note, GARD cannot enroll individuals in clinical studies.
ClinicalTrials.gov, an affiliate of NIH, provides current information on clinical research studies in the United States and abroad. Talk to a trusted doctor before choosing to participate in any clinical study. We recommend checking this site often and searching for studies with related terms/synonyms to improve results.
GARDGenetic and Rare Diseases
Information Center
Information Center
Please contact GARD if you need help finding additional information or resources on rare diseases, including clinical studies. Our Information Specialists are available to you by phone or by filling out our contact form. Note, GARD cannot enroll individuals in clinical studies.
The National Library of Medicine's Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) is used to classify and organize diseases and disease categories.
Data from Orphanet and Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) are used to provide information on a disease's symptoms, genes, inheritance, population estimates, and more.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2015). Health Literacy Online: A Guide for Simplifying the User Experience.
- Reference: Access aggregated data from Orphanet at Orphadata. Orphanet is an online database of rare diseases and orphan drugs. Copyright, INSERM 1997.
- Reference: Download data from HPO. Kohler S, Gargano M, Matentzoglu N, et al., The Human Phenotype Ontology in 2021, Nucleic Acids Research, Volume 49, Issue D1, 8 January 2021, Pages D1207–D1217.
- Reference: MedGen Data Downloads and FTP
- Reference: Data from the Newborn Screening Coding and Terminology Guide is available here. Downs SM, van Dyck PC, Rinaldo P, et al. Improving newborn screening laboratory test ordering and result reporting using health information exchange . J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2010 Jan-Feb;17(1):13-8.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2015). Health Literacy Online: A Guide for Simplifying the User Experience.
Last Updated: February 2023