Following on from our previous blog on what Schwannoma's and symptoms to look out for, we asked Mr Valenti about how they can be diagnosed, what causes them and most importantly, treatment.
Diagnosing
Diagnosing schwannoma’s can occur through a variety of different ways by a doctor. Once a general health check has been done, and sometimes a blood test, methods for identifying schwannoma’s are…
- CT Scan
- MRI Scan
- Nerve Conduction Study
- Tumor Biopsy
- Nerve Biopsy
Causes
Schwannoma’s can be inherited from conditions such as Neurofibromatosis II (NF2). NF2 is a condition which causes tumours to grow along your nerves, usually the ones responsible for hearing and balance.
Despite this, most schwannoma’s are not inherited and it’s unknown why they develop.
Treatment
Depending on whether a schwannoma is malignant or benign, there are different options for treatment.
If they are small, benign, and not putting pressure on nerves, it’s possible they can be observed by a doctor or specialist over time with MRI scans.
Benign tumours can also be surgically removed with the aim of keeping the nerve fully intact.
However, if the schwannoma is malignant, growing in size and causing discomfort to the individual, treatment such as surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy can be used.
Following successful surgery, recurrences of schwannoma's are rare.
This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.
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