What are nerve tumours?
Need to know
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What are the symptoms of peripheral nerve tumours? icon plus
Benign (non-cancerous) tumours grow slowly within the nerve, causing it to expand and press down on the nerve fibres. This causes pain, numbness and a lump under the skin. While most peripheral nerve tumours are benign, some are cancerous (malignant). In these cases, it's more likely to cause loss of function and pain. -
Diagnosing peripheral nerve tumours icon plus
Your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you and help to make a diagnosis. They will examine the lump and order further tests. These include:
- an MRI scan to see your soft tissues and nerves
- a CT scan to get a detailed picture of how a tumour may affect your nerves and body
- an electromyogram (EMG) to record electricity in your muscles
Crucially, your consultant will order biopsies on the tumour to see if it's cancerous and to determine treatment. Here, a small collection of cells is sent away for testing.
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Potential treatment options icon plus
If a tumour is benign, they don't normally reoccur. Malignant tumours are removed promptly, through surgery. The surgeon will also take a small amount of healthy tissue to ensure they have caught all the cells. This is followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Our locations
From complex nerve surgery to diagnostic tests and procedures, we provide exceptional peripheral nerve care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.
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Peripheral Nerve Injury (PNI) Unit
The PNI Unit at The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place
London NW8 9LE
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The Wellington Hospital Elstree Waterfront
The Waterfront Business Park
Beaufort House, Elstree Road, Elstree WD6 3BS
Request an appointment
Our booking teams can help you make an appointment with one of our experienced consultants.