What is Schwannoma?
Schwannomas are benign, slow growing nerve tumors that can occur anywhere in the peripheral nervous system. Generally, patients discover a painless, firm lump. Though these tumors form within nerves and are surrounded by normal nerve fibers, they are easily separated from the nerve and removed by an experienced peripheral nerve surgeon.
These are the most common nerve tumors operated on by non-peripheral nerve surgeons. Tragically, these patients undergo a “lymph node biopsy,” only to awaken with permanent weakness, numbness and pain. It is then to the horror of patient and surgeon that they indeed had a nerve tumor instead.