Health condition
Peripheral nerve sheath tumours
Most peripheral nerve sheath tumours - schwannomas and neurofibromas - are benign lumps arising from a nerve’s insulation, removable with nerve-preserving surgery; the task is distinguishing them from their rare malignant counterpart and recognising underlying genetic syndromes.
Why trust this guide
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Editorial team
Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.
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Sourced from guidance
Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.
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Current for 2026
Reviewed on 2026-09-27 with the next review scheduled for 2027-09-27.
Key facts
The essentials at a glance.
The symptoms to recognise, when to seek help, which specialist to see, and what treatment usually involves.
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A mobile lump with tingling on tapping (Tinel’s sign) suggests a nerve sheath origin
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Schwannomas can usually be shelled out with the nerve preserved
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Growth, persistent pain or new weakness raise concern about malignant change
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Multiple tumours suggest NF1, NF2-related or other schwannomatosis and warrant genetics review
Understanding the condition
What it is and what happens next.
What causes it, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment routes available in the UK.
What it is and how it feels
Nerves run everywhere, so these tumours appear anywhere - a forearm lump that zings to the fingers when knocked, a mass in the neck or pelvis found on imaging. Benign schwannomas displace nerve fibres around a capsule, allowing elegant enucleation; neurofibromas interweave with the fibres themselves, demanding more surgical judgement. Biopsy of a suspected nerve sheath tumour is approached cautiously and ideally within a specialist service, since ill-planned sampling risks nerve injury.
Diagnosis and treatment routes
The consequential distinctions are two: syndromic context - multiple lesions or café-au-lait skin changes point to neurofibromatosis or schwannomatosis, changing surveillance for life - and the rare transformation signalled by rapid growth, deep persistent pain or neurological deficit, which triggers MRI and PET assessment for malignancy rather than a waiting policy. Symptomatic benign tumours are removed by surgeons practised in intraneural dissection, with monitoring, and outcomes for function are generally excellent. In many parts of the UK, routine NHS referrals for this kind of problem can take months, whereas an initial appointment with a private consultant is typically available within around two weeks.
Seeing a specialist
Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.
The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant neurosurgeon. Your GP can refer you on the NHS, or you can arrange a private consultation directly.
A quiet reminder
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and seek urgent care for any of the emergency symptoms described above.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Peripheral nerve sheath tumours.
Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.
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What are peripheral nerve sheath tumours?
These are growths that develop from the protective covering (sheath) around peripheral nerves, the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Most are benign (schwannomas or neurofibromas), but a small proportion are malignant.
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What causes peripheral nerve sheath tumours?
Many arise without a clear cause, but a proportion are linked to genetic conditions such as neurofibromatosis type 1 or 2, which predispose to multiple nerve tumours. Previous radiation exposure is a risk factor for the malignant form.
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What are the symptoms?
A slow-growing lump, sometimes with tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain along the affected nerve's distribution, is typical. Rapid growth or new pain in a previously stable lump can signal malignant change and needs prompt review.
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Are peripheral nerve sheath tumours dangerous?
Most are benign and not immediately dangerous, though they can cause troublesome symptoms if they press on the nerve. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours are more serious and require prompt, specialist cancer treatment.
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Are they genetic?
They can be, particularly when multiple tumours occur as part of neurofibromatosis type 1 or 2 or schwannomatosis, all of which are inherited conditions. Isolated single tumours in people without these conditions are usually not hereditary.
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Can peripheral nerve sheath tumours be treated?
Yes, benign tumours causing symptoms are typically removed surgically, often with good preservation of nerve function by an experienced surgeon. Malignant tumours need a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and sometimes chemotherapy.
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How are they diagnosed?
MRI scanning is the key imaging test to characterise the tumour and its relationship to the nerve, sometimes followed by a biopsy to confirm whether it's benign or malignant, particularly if features are atypical.
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How long does recovery from surgery take?
Recovery depends on the tumour's size and location, but many people return to normal activities within several weeks, with nerve-related symptoms such as numbness sometimes taking longer to fully settle.
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Benign vs malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours — what's the difference?
Benign tumours (schwannomas, neurofibromas) grow slowly and rarely spread, while malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours grow faster, can spread to other parts of the body, and need oncology-led treatment. Imaging and biopsy help distinguish between them.
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When should I see a doctor, and how quickly can I be seen privately?
See a doctor for any new or growing lump along a nerve, especially with pain, weakness, or tingling. Private specialist assessment, including imaging, is usually available within about two weeks, compared with considerably longer NHS routine referral pathways.