Surgery for a Spine Schwannoma in New Jersey

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spinal schwannoma is a tumor that forms in the nerve roots along the spinal cord. Patients diagnosed with a spinal schwannoma tumor can access outstanding treatment at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO). CNSO is New Jersey’s most comprehensive brain and spine center, providing diagnosis and treatments for brain, spine, and nerve conditions, including spinal schwannomas. Learn more about spine schwannoma surgery and treatment options from the neurosurgeon specialists at CNSO.

What Is a Spinal Schwannoma?

A schwannoma is a rare type of tumor that forms on the nerves that branch off of the spinal cord and extend into the peripheral nervous system. Schwannomas develop from Schwann cells, that cover the peripheral nerves and support the enclosed nerve cells of the peripheral nervous system. These tumors usually are benign (non-cancerous) and slow-growing but can be cancerous in rare cases. Schwannomas are commonly found in the nerve that allows hearing, the vestibulocochlear nerve, which is located in the head. A Schwannoma can also form along any peripheral nerve in the body. When schwannomas form on the nerve roots near where they branch off from the spinal cord but before leaving the spinal column, they are known as spinal schwannomas. Schwannomas are categorized into four types based on their size and location. These are:

• Type I: Located completely inside the dura (the thin membrane that surrounds the spinal cord and the nerve roots immediately as they branch off but still within the spinal canal). This is the most common type of spinal schwannoma.
• Type II: This type originates as a Type I tumor in the dura and then grows into a tumor with parts inside and outside the spinal canal (often called a dumbbell-shaped tumor).
• Type III: Develops entirely outside the spinal canal. Also known as a paraspinal nerve sheath tumor.
• Type IV: This type begins as a Type III tumor that develops outside the spinal canal but continues to grow into the spinal canal.

The symptoms a patient experiences will depend on what type of schwannoma they have and how large it is. Small schwannomas often cause no symptoms. If symptoms appear, it is generally when the tumor’s growing size presses on the surrounding nerves or spinal cord. Symptoms can include back or neck pain, numbness or weakness in the limbs, and balance and coordination issues.

Causes and Risk Factors of Spinal Schwannoma

The exact causes of schwannomas are not known, but there has been a link established between schwannomas and certain genetic disorders. Patients who have schwannomatosis, neurofibromatosis II (NF2), or Carney complex (CNC) may be more vulnerable to schwannomas.

Schwannomas without NF2 or schwannomatosis are designated as sporadic schwannomas, which occur without any known risk factors. Sporadic spinal schwannomas can occur in men and women and are most common in middle-aged people, although they can form (rarely) in children and elderly patients.

Diagnosing Spinal Schwannoma

To diagnose a spinal schwannoma, or any type of tumor, a neurosurgeon who is a spine specialist must use radiologic imaging to visualize the tumor, identify its exact location and relationship to other anatomic structures as well as rule out other conditions that may be causing the symptoms. The necessary imaging scan used is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which produces radiographic images of a patient’s organs and tissues. MRIs can help a neurosurgeon who is a brain and spine specialist visualize the schwannomas that are as small as a few millimeters. Sometimes, contrast dye is administered intravenously to help the tumor stand out in imaging. These scans can also guide biopsies, which involve removing a sample of the tumor to see if it is benign or cancerous.

Spinal Schwannoma Surgery and Other Treatments

The treatment for spinal schwannomas will vary depending on the tumor’s size, location, type, and any symptoms it causes. They include:

Monitoring

Some small spinal schwannomas do not cause any symptoms. These are monitored over time. Patients will get routine imaging scans to make sure the tumor has not grown or started pressing on surrounding structures.

Surgery

For spinal schwannomas that are large enough to cause symptoms or are growing quickly, surgical removal may be recommended. An orthopedic spine surgeon usually will use minimally invasive spine surgery techniques to remove the tumor. If the patient has a dumbbell-shaped tumor, spinal stabilization and fusion may be needed after the tumor removal. Spinal fusion surgery helps to rebuild unstable vertebrae and spine joints that can become loosened after removing the tumor.

Radiation Therapy

For patients with faster-growing schwannomas that may press on surrounding structures, radiation therapy may be recommended to prevent further growth. Radiation can be used alone or in combination with surgery.

Although malignant schwannomas are quite rare, if a patient has a cancerous tumor, they may undergo treatments such as immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Spinal Schwannoma Recovery

The prognosis for patients with schwannomas depends on factors like the treatment used, whether the tumor is benign or cancerous, and the tumor’s size. Typically, the prognosis for patients with schwannomas is good because these tumors do not usually recur once they are completely removed.

However, for an optimized and rapid recovery, it is important to choose a medical team that is experienced with surgical removal of spinal schwannomas, like the comprehensive medical team at CNSO.

The medical team at CNSO includes neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, interventional pain management physicians, physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, and certified physical therapists who work together to ensure comprehensive and compassionate care. CNSO takes a conservative approach to treatment throughout the patient journey, with a care team that is expert at all stages, from pain management to physical therapy to spine surgery.

Access Spinal Schwannoma Surgery at CNSO

Patients with spinal schwannomas can trust the high-quality care offered at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics. Whether the schwannoma is small and needs to be monitored or is large enough to require surgery, the team at CNSO will work together to devise the most appropriate treatment plan for each patient. For more information about spinal schwannoma surgery at CNSO, request an appointment at one of CNSO’s New Jersey locations today.