Not all brain or nerve tumors are cancer.
Schwannomas are benign (non-cancerous) tumors that grow from the cells around your nerves. Even though they aren’t cancer, they can affect your balance, hearing, swallowing and eye movement, depending on where they grow. You might also have pain, tingling, numbness or even facial paralysis. All these things can significantly impact your daily life, so it’s natural to feel worried or anxious if you’ve been diagnosed with a schwannoma.
At Cleveland Clinic, our specialists are here to provide the expert, compassionate care you need to guide and support you through every step of your diagnosis and treatment.
Cleveland Clinic is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive brain, spine, and nerve tumor programs in the U.S. Our team-based approach to care means specialists from various fields work together to develop a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. Meet our team.
We’ve pioneered a minimally invasive schwannoma treatment that lets us remove your tumor through your nose instead of through an opening in your skull. It can mean faster recovery, less time in the hospital and a lower risk of complications after surgery.
Not all appointments need to be in person. Many of your appointments can be done virtually. This convenient option lets you meet with your provider from the comfort of home.
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Schwannomas are tumors that start in schwann cells, which help protect your nerves by making a covering called the myelin sheath. These tumors are usually found on your vestibular nerve (the nerve that connects your inner ear to your brain), but they can grow anywhere in your body.
To diagnose a schwannoma, we’ll look closely at where it is, what nerves it might be affecting and whether it’s non-cancerous or malignant (cancerous).
Your provider will go over your personal and family medical histories and ask about your symptoms. Then they’ll do a physical exam.
They may also order an MRI or CT scan to get detailed pictures of the tumor and the surrounding areas and an ultrasound to detect schwannomas under your skin.
In some cases, you may need a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Your provider will take a sample of the tumor, and a pathologist will examine the sample underneath a microscope to determine its type.
When you choose Cleveland Clinic for schwannoma treatment, you’ll benefit from the expertise of a team of specialists who’ll work together to care for you. Your team may include:
These providers will create a personalized care plan that fits your specific condition and needs.
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.
Treatment for a schwannoma depends on several factors, such as its size, location, and whether it's benign or malignant. The most common treatments include:
If your tumor is small, slow growing, and not causing symptoms, your provider might recommend watchful waiting or simply keeping a close eye on it over time. Regular follow-up appointments and imaging tests will help track the tumor’s growth. If it starts causing problems, we’ll talk with you about the next steps.
If the tumor is large, causing problems or getting bigger, you might need surgery. We use different types of minimally invasive procedures, which mean smaller incisions (cuts), a shorter recovery time and fewer complications.
If the schwannoma is near the base of your skull (behind your nose or near your eye), we may be able to remove it through your nose using a thin tube with a camera and light on the end (endoscope). If the tumor is on your vestibular nerve, which helps control balance, we can usually do the surgery through a small incision behind your ear.
We use special tools, like tiny instruments and microscopes, to carefully operate in small spaces, like inside your inner ear. We’ve also helped to lead the way in using a new tool called an exoscope, which gives your surgeon a better view and helps them reach the tumor more easily during surgery.
If surgery isn’t an option or the tumor is cancerous, your provider may recommend other treatments. These may include minimally invasive radiation therapy (including Gamma Knife® radiosurgery) or chemotherapy and immunotherapy for rare, cancerous tumors or multiple tumors (such as in neurofibromatosis type 2).
After your surgery, we’ll keep a close eye on you as you recover to make sure the tumor is completely gone. Follow-up care includes imaging tests, like MRIs, to check for any signs that the tumor has come back (recurrence) and to see how well you’re healing. Our goal is to help restore your balance, hearing and overall health.
Receiving a schwannoma diagnosis can be overwhelming, but the good news is that most schwannomas are benign, slow growing and treatable. Cleveland Clinic’s expert providers are ready with the innovative and minimally invasive treatments you need to help you regain control of your health and life.
Getting an appointment with Cleveland Clinic’s schwannomas experts is easy. We’re here to help you get the care you need.
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