Benign Peripheral Nerve Tumors

Overview

Your peripheral nerves link your brain and spinal cord to other parts of your body. These nerves control your muscles so that you can walk, blink, swallow, pick things up and do other activities.

Several types of nerve tumors occur. Though their cause is usually unknown, some are hereditary. Most tumors aren't cancerous (malignant), but they can lead to nerve damage and loss of muscle control. That's why it's important to see your doctor when you have any unusual lump, pain, tingling or numbness.

Why choose Mayo Clinic

• Experience. Every year, Mayo Clinic doctors perform more than 100 procedures to remove the relatively rare benign peripheral nerve tumors.
• Expertise. Mayo Clinic has earned national recognition for developing special techniques that let surgeons remove a tumor without damaging any nearby nerve.
• Team approach. To diagnose and treat people who have benign peripheral nerve tumors. integrated teams of doctors trained to treat nerve disorders (neurologists and neurosurgeons) work with doctors trained in inherited conditions (geneticists) and professionals trained to help people regain movement and function.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery and for rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report.