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A benign tumor on the neck of a schwannoma

grzes017
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Has anyone had a case like me or someone could advise me what to do next and make the right decision.  For 2 years I have been struggling with a tumor on the right side of the neck. The diagnosis was made after a fine needle biopsy of schwannoma.  I was recommended to have it checked, but during the whole year I had grown more than 1cm, now the dimensions of the tumor are 4.2cm × 2.6cm. Doctors told me if I would grow rapidly, I would be waiting for an operation.  There is a vagus nerve and this carries a very high risk of nerve failure. There is a high risk of surgery.  And the second thing is that this tumor is adjacent to the carotid artery and after the CT scans it is clearly constricted and compresses the arteries. If anyone has had such a case or heard, would like to share your opinion on this subject, I would be very grateful.  I greet everyone

  • Welcome to the forum Grzes017 although I'm sorry for the reason you've posted.

    Hopefully some of our members who have been in a similar situation will share their thoughts with you soon but whilst you wait it may be worth getting in touch with Nerve Tumours UK. I'm not sure if you've come across this charity before but they are the leading voice for people living with nerve tumours and neurofibromatosis in the UK, so they may be able to offer you more information and support at this time.

    However, if you feel it may help to talk things through with someone then you're very welcome to give our cancer nurses a call next week on 0808 800 4040. Their phone lines are open Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

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    Hi GRZes017,

    I was wondering how you are doing and whether you have moved forward with your consultant as to what you should do next?

    I too have been diagnosed with a schwannoma Tumour of the vagus nerve on the the left side of my neck. It's measuring in at about 4x3 cm.  My consultant doesn't seem to be very interested as it is benign and surgery does carry its risks.  I seem to be having alot of symptoms with mine.  I was wondering whether you have symptoms? Pain etc?

    I am waiting for another MRI of the brain and a hearing test as I've noticed my hearing change.  I believe that this is one of the symptoms if the tumour continues to grow then complete hearing loss can occur, along with loss of balance, loss of sensation of the face and various other things.  I am concerned that if I leave it then the risk of surgery outweighs the inevitable in the future if that makes sense. 

    Hope to hear back from you as some months have past since you posted.

    Take care

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    Hi grzes017, I hope by now you have managed to sort this out, but if not, then possibly some of the following may help.

    My wife went to  a dermatologist to confirm a leg balsall cell that she had been waiting over a year for NHS to remove. At the examination, he found a growth on the left side of her neck, in the Brachial Plexus area, which he thought was a lymph node, however after a CT scan that was not clear, he arranges a Fine Needle Biopsy, but that was dissapointing as he hit the nerve twice and did not try anything else, not even an MRI before asking a plastic surgeon to remove the growth, which we thought was the lymph node discussed..

    After the removal, my wife's left hand was unable to work and this was 5 months ago and it has barely improved with no stregtha ta all.

    I asked to see the biopsy report and see that the pathologist of the CT scan  and FNA noted that there was doubt about the growth and suggested it may be a nerve tumour, but we were never advised about this and the surgeom did not look further before removal.

    Had we been informed, we would have asked more specifically about additional risk and if we needed to see a nerve specialist but were not gven the opportunity.

    From my own research over the last few months,I see that the images of the  FNA should have been recorded, but were not.and we feel badly let down and it may be a long time recovering if in fact it does clear.

    Whatever you do, only proceed with the operation for removal with a neurosurgeon, not a general surgeon, as the schwannoma need to be dealy wth by experets.

    How did you proceed?

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